Badjao scholars briefed about their rights

TO educate the Badjao youth on their rights, the Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) held an orientation on Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and Anti-Mendicancy Law or City Ordinance 1631 to 29 Badjao student-scholars of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary last July 6 at the Nano Nagle School in sitio Puntod, barangay Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City.

The orientation was delivered by Susana Ramirez, Tribal Affairs Assistant II of the National Commission on Indigenous People-Cebu Provincial Office.

“As Badjaos, it is important for you to know what your rights are,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez discussed some of the provisions of IPRA, such as to provide equal protection and recognition of all human rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

During the discussion on the Anti-Mendicancy Law, participants were asked if they experienced begging in the streets. Most of them answered in the affirmative. They said their parents asked them to beg to help earn money for the family.

Some of them play music with improvised drums from PVC pipes or cans along streets or inside jeepneys in exchange for a few coins. Others dive for coins thrown by passengers of docking ships at the pier.

Ramirez encouraged the participants to support the city government’s advocacy campaign to stop Badjaos and indigents from begging.

The activity is part of BIAD-P’s youth formation under capacity building and empowerment development.

For more information about BIAD-P, call Mark Joey Bautista at 4187234 local 515 or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter.