Iloilo City Strengthens Monitoring of Badjao

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo City Task Force Badjao has intensified its monitoring efforts to address the presence of Badjao individuals in the city ahead of the holiday season and Dinagyang Festival 2025.

The initiative supports the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance and aims to maintain public order during peak tourist and commercial activities.

Hector Alejano, head of the task force, said the team is focused on rescuing Badjao individuals found begging in public spaces.

“We continue our monitoring efforts, and when we encounter any Badjao individuals, we immediately rescue them,” Alejano said during a press briefing, adding that operations are conducted daily in the morning and afternoon.

Unlike previous years, when many Badjao were sent to Jolo and Sulu, the task force now ensures stricter enforcement of anti-mendicancy measures.

Alejano explained that individuals encountered are transported back to their communities, with transportation costs covered by their earnings in the city.

Instead of simply removing them from the streets, rescued individuals are referred to appropriate agencies for profiling and support.

This approach replaces the previous system, which relied on city funds for repatriation.

The task force has reported a significant decrease in the number of Badjao individuals in the city, attributing it to consistent enforcement efforts.

Under Iloilo City’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2002-400), begging and giving alms in public places are prohibited.

Mendicants caught begging face fines of PHP 500, imprisonment of up to one year, or both. Those who give alms are fined PHP 500 or required to perform community service. Exploiting minors, the disabled, or the infirm in mendicancy carries a fine of PHP 2,000 and up to two months in prison.

Nationally, Presidential Decree No. 1563, the Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978, penalizes beggars and those who facilitate begging, directing local government units to create ordinances to address mendicancy.

The Badjao, also known as “sea gypsies,” are an ethnic group primarily from coastal areas in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga del Sur in the Bangsamoro region.

Due to conflict and limited livelihood opportunities, many have migrated to other areas, including Iloilo City, in search of better prospects.

Alejano emphasized the role of barangay officials in supporting the task force’s efforts.

In collaboration with the Iloilo City Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the task force also utilizes the “Revitalizing Reach-Out and Intensifying Programs” (Re-RAIS), which focuses on securing vulnerable groups, particularly minors, and expediting interventions.

While the campaign has significantly reduced the Badjao population in the city, the task force continues to prioritize education and awareness about the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance.

Alejano reiterated that giving alms on the streets perpetuates mendicancy and undermines efforts to help vulnerable groups transition to sustainable livelihoods.