BY GLAZYL MASCULINO
BACOLOD CITY – The city government of Victorias City in Negros Occidental sent home 94 Badjaos to Jolo, Sulu on Saturday.
Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca coordinated with Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command Office for the repatriation of these Badjaos, who have been wanting to go home to Sulu amid the pandemic.
The Badjaos left the city on board a Ceres Liner bus and eight vans. Their transport and meals were provided by the provincial Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while cash aid was also given to them by DSWD-6.
The city also coordinated with the province of Sulu through the office of Governor Abdusakur Tan, Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team, Office of Civil Defense- 6, and for this trip.
The barangay will demolish the shanties they left and enclose the area located near the Malihaw Bridge with cyclone wires.
Last October, 73 Badjaos in Bacolod were also sent home to Sulu to prevent them from becoming victims or carriers of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they roam and beg around the city.
