The city government here on Friday rescued 23 Badjaos from the city streets and sent them back to Mindanao in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Iloilo City Social Welfare Officer Teresa Gelogo, in an interview, said they have profiled those rescued with 12 found to be minors, as young as 2 years old, while 11 were adults.

The Badjaos told the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) staff during the interview that they came to Iloilo to ask for Christmas gifts.

They stayed at the Tagbak Terminal and under the bridge in Barangay Buhang in the Jaro district.

“Ilonggos are generous that is why they get accustomed to it since money is fast,” Gelogo said in dialect.

Of the 23 individuals, one was identified to have been repeatedly returning to the city while others arrived at least a week ago.

Other Badjaos are expected to come in several days, authorities were told.

They usually take off early in the morning to beg, some even reaching as far as the University of the Philippines Iloilo City, the social welfare officer said.

“The Coast Guard has assured that they will keep watch of expected arrivals and make sure that they could not go back to the city,” Gelogo added.

The Badjaos were transported by the CSWDO and the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office to the Dumangas Port in Dumangas, Iloilo where they boarded a Ceres bus for their free trip back to Mindanao.

Gelogo added that she has already coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development on the possible assistance that can be given to Badjaos since they could not also qualify for the “Balik Probinsya” program, for livelihood assistance.

“For the profiling alone they could not qualify since they are not telling the truth. Some said that they are from Dipolog or in other areas in Mindanao,” she said.

Meantime, she advised the public to refrain from giving alms to the Badjaos since they are already becoming dependent and while it is okay to give but they are vulnerable to accidents. (PNA)