96 more Badjaos sent home to Mindanao

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-6 and the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) sent home a total of 96 Badjaos from Sagay City to Mindanao last Saturday.

These Badjaos traveled through Dumaguete City port in Negros Oriental via 2GO vessel in Zamboanga City. They were provided with food and cash assistance.

The initiative was made to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), after a leader of the Badjao community in Sagay City tested positive for COVID last week.

Their repatriation was spearheaded by Engr. Joseph Paul Nogra, OCD-6 operation officer, along with Dr. Zeapard Gerhart V. Caelian, Incident Commander of Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force and head of PDMPD.

Meanwhile, Major Niňo Tornalejo, executive officer of Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB), who also assisted the repatriation of the Badjaos, said the government still gives sentiment and respect to traditions and way of living, not only to Badjaos, but to all tribes in the country.

On that same day, 94 Badjaos in Victorias City were also sent home to Jolo, Sulu.