The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) should put to a halt all the “yearly begging” activities of indigenous peoples in Manila’s busy streets and thoroughfares especially as the Christmas season nears.
Senator Robin Padilla said there seems to be an endless cycle of IPs, particularly of Badjaos, and other indigenous peoples, forced to travel to Metro Manila at Christmas time and risk their lives while begging for alms.
Padilla said it is high time that they get priority long-term livelihood assistance from the DSWD and the NCIP.
“Tuwing dadating ang Kapaskuhan, nakikita po natin ang ating mga katutubo sa iba’t ibang kalsada kasama ang kanilang mga anak lalo ang mga kapatid kong Badjao... Kukunin sila, tapos ibabalik sa lugar nila, babalik din sila dito (When Christmastime approaches, we see IPs such as our Badjao brethren on the streets, with their children. Our authorities would rescue them from the streets and send them to their home provinces, but they will keep coming back)," Padilla said during the hearing of the Senate finance sub-committee panel on the proposed 2023 budget of the DSWD.
“Meron pong mga programa ang DSWD tulad ng livelihood program. Ito ang sa akin lang mapaglarong isip. Pwede po kaya na turuan na lang sila kung paano mamasko nang hindi delikado, parang gawin ba nating livelihood yan (Our DSWD has livelihood programs. This is a suggestion - can we teach them to earn a living without having to risk their lives)?" the senator pointed out.
Padilla said it is "very painful to see" IPs going to Manila and begging for alms, considering they are "royal blood."
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said his department will boost its Balik Probinsya at Kalahi-CIDSS program to help the IPs once they are brought to their homes.
Tulfo said these programs must be implemented this year so they need not return to Manila next year.
For his part, NCIP chairman Allen Capuyan said they plan to replicate the program of the Davao City government where IPs are gathered at a venue for a cultural presentation, and donors and sponsors can go there.
Capuyan also said they are now coordinating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to teach IPs weaving skills.
The DSWD has a proposed P194.63-billion budget for fiscal year 2023. Tulfo told the Senate panel that the bulk of DSWD's proposed allocation amounting to P182.7-billion would finance the agency's services and programs.
He said the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or "4Ps" is the department's top program in terms of allocation; followed by the grant of social pension to indigent senior citizens; and the agency's protective services for families in difficult situations.