Muslim, Badjao leaders unite to help address mendicancy

CEBU, Philippines — Leaders of the Muslim and Badjao communities in Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City are expected to help the city address the longtime problem of mendicancy.

The city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) already had an initial meeting with the community leaders last Wednesday at the office of Mambaling Barangay Capt. Roseller Salvador to discuss the rising concern on street begging by members of the Badjao and Muslim communities.

The city’s PIO noted the increasing presence of Badjao and Muslim individuals, who are not Cebu City residents, and are just renting a space to solicit or beg for money on the city's streets.

DSWS head Portia Basmayor said they received information last Monday that a house had been rented out by a “handler” of these Badjaos to beg on the streets, particularly this Christmas season.

Felicito Asamsa, tribe leader of the Badjaos’ “Side A” at Sitio Nava, said they have 500 members while a leader from “Side B” said he has 300.

However, Asamsa said, there are only around 20 of them who are resorting to begging on the streets as most of them are fisherfolks.

Akhmad, identified as a Muslim leader also in Sitio Nava, also noted that there are mendicants in their group, but denied being behind them.

Akhmad accordingly even welcomes the idea of sending them back to Mindanao, especially that some of the money they got were just used for gambling.

With this, another meeting will be called next week to find solution to this problems concerning the mendicants in the city. — (FREEMAN)