City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) conducted a week-long research activity in Badjao community at barangays Malitam and Wawa, Batangas City last June 25- July 04, 2014. It used Needs Assessment and Gender Tools to gather first-hand data from the local sources and to analyze their current situation.
This research was a first step in implementing the Ala Eh! Bangon Badjao, a Community-based Natural Resources Management Program in the Badjao community. CBNRMP is an approach to conservation and development that recognizes the rights of local people to manage and benefit from the management and use of natural resources. It entails transferring back to communities’ access and use rights, empowering them with legislation and devolved management responsibility, building their capacity and creating partnerships with the public and private sector actors to develop programs for the sustainable use of variety of natural resources.
Ala Eh! Bangon Badjao is a call-to-action long-term campaign to augment the current situation of this indigenous group in terms of sustainable development (economical, environmental, and social aspects). Upholding the rights of this community for a sustainable living is beneficial not only to achieving healthier ecosystem but also to the City by becoming its productive citizens later on.
INTERVIEW RESULT
Five percent (5%) of the local community was represented. Face-to-face, workshop, and key informant interviews were held.
TOP 10 PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED
Respondents identified these top ten problems within their community:
1. Unstable source of income and poverty
Badjaos have to finance their physiological or survival needs such as food, water, and shelter. Since fishing is their major source of income, disaster like strong typhoon, and decline in fish catch due to water pollution are threats to their livelihood. Male respondents seek assistance from the government to support their fishing activity by providing them training and capacity building skills such as banca-making. Organizing them into a registered fishermen group will also give them assurance that they will not be caught and prevented from fishing by the Bantay Dagat Volunteers and other marine law-implementing bodies.
More mothers want to be sponsored by the government as members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The financial assistance has a great impact for their family in terms of sending their children to school, and providing food for the table.
Respondents expect the government to give them jobs. They reiterate that most of themhardly findwork because they have not finished schooling. Other people do not trust them for the misconception such as being “illiterate”, “thieves”, “unclean”, “disrespectful”, and “mean”.
They are saddened that they have to ask for alms to sustain their needs. They are desperate to find a stable source of income that they are contented to receive tasks such as a street sweeper, garbage collector, vendor, dish washer, and household helper. For them, to earn income to eat for a day is more than enough.
Badjaos are trapped in the poverty cycle- unstable source of income makes them poor and poverty hinders their ability to finish education and find a work later on.
2. Illiteracy
Older generation of Badjaos is illiterate. Respondents said that they were unable to read and write because they were not sent to school by their parents. They move frequently because of prevalent war in parts of Zamboanga, Jolo and Basilan. They also live near waters and far from areas where schools are located. Poverty hinders their capability to go to school. Since they have no money to buy their daily meals, pay transportation expense, and purchase school uniforms and projects they quit schooling. Bullying is also a factor why they stop attending classes. Badjaos experience discrimination and self-fulfilling prophecy. They were tagged as slow learner, have poor hygiene, and have low emotional quotient. Because of a language barrier, they have difficulty interacting with other people and expressing their ideas and needs. They are always left out in learning academic subjects. They lack moral and financial support to continue their education.
However, younger generation of Badjaos has now access to education. Most of them attend classes in Malitam and Wawa Elementary Schools. Sahaya Ministry, a Christian community, provides free literacy classes while the Islamic community teaches children Arabic language.
To keep the students safe and sound especially during weather disturbance, a strong structure for learning is required. Imam Abu Bakar is requesting assistance from the government to help them build their School for Arabic Class. A Day Care Center in the local community that will also enrich their culture as indigenous group is suggested.
3.Unmanaged solid waste and degraded natural resources
Badjaos need to learn the principle of solid waste management. The ideas of sorting garbage, composting wastes, and establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) are suggested.
Mangrove suffocated with garbage
Respondents agree that the situation of mangrove area in their community is worst. Lack of hygiene is a main issue; poops and pees are everywhere. These are wrapped in plastic packs and thrown freely in the air. Also, there is a strong presence of garbage from different sources outside the community. Tides especially during storm have brought these tons of wastes into the mangrove area. These are causing the health of the surrounding ecosystem to decline. It also serves as a health threat for the whole community- presence of solid wastes means polluted ground water source, stinking smell makes the air difficult to breathe, and wastes are eye sores. For the Badjao locals, it is a sad scenario. According to them, to take action is the first step to stop this from continuing to happen in the later years.
Declining fish collection in the nearby coastal areas
Badjaos are dependent to fishing activity. Since their religion, culture and beliefs define what they have to eat- they do not consume meat and rely solely for rice, fish and vegetables as their diet. Those going farther in other places in order to catch fish mean increased expense in fuel consumption resulting to lesser take-home pay. Water pollution is a main contributor to the decline of collected fish in the nearby waters. They are afraid that one day, they will no longer be able to catch fish for a living as well as have fish for their personal consumption. In an interview, there was a scenario that a family failed to eat for a day because the father was unable to catch fish. To them that was a misfortune.
4. Poor hygiene
Badjaos need comfort room and a source of water. There were public toilets within the community but the locals do not utilize these because maintenance is an issue. Poverty also hinders them to buy basic toiletries such as soap and tissue. Some children swim, and the locals wash their clothes in the Calumpang River. They rarely buy clean water for they have to pay one peso (P1.00) for every gallon. That means, they have to spend at least fifty pesos (P50.00) per day to do their washing of clothes, and cleaning themselves using a safe and clean water they buy from local entrepreneurs.
5. Poor water source
Residents directly drink water they buy from the supplier. However, they boil water that is for consumption of their children. If they failed to do this, their health will be greatly put at risk. An eight month child died last month due to amoeba-infected water drink sourced locally. Badjaos learned their lesson well and will heat their water regularly for the safety of their family members.
6. Unimproved bridge
Badjaos have to move from one place to another to do their daily activities such as going to school, barangay center, work, market, and church. The accessible bridge they have is made of pieces of bamboo tied-using rope. This is biodegradable and lasts only for a year. Badjaos have difficulty crossing since their bridge moves freely under presence of strong wind. They are also at risk of falling hard into a contaminated water with solid wastes found under the bridge when this breaks. According to them, “improved bridge improves their lives.” They were hoping that the government will put this project into a priority.
7. Lack of source of electricity
Badjaos pay five pesos (P5.00) per jar of oil in order to light their house in the evening that goes from 7pm to 10pm. They have to sleep early and stop all their activities by the time their light runs out. Children suffers because they have to work their assignments using dim light. They hardly focus on studying their subjects because of lack of electricity.
8. High cost of medicine and hospital expenses
Because of high cost of medicine and hospital expenses, their sick family member is often untreated, and worst die of illness. Common sickness are colds, cough, fever, diarrhea, skin diseases, and asthma. According to interviews, there was a high fatality rate incident happened in the past years when more than five residents, including children, died of measles. Also, easily treated diseases like diarrhea and high fever costs the lives of youngsters. Some local residents have epilepsy, diabetes, hyper tension, rheumatism, goiter, and mental illness. Therefore, membership in Philhealth Insurance is a necessity to help them lower their medical expenses in case a family member requires hospitalization.
9. Lack of security of tenure
Climate change has direct impact on the Badjao community. Sea level rise and strong typhoons displace Badjao and push them to find another safe and suitable niche. On 2002, their community sprang in their latest location since Typhoon Caloy destroyed their houses in an island where they were first situated. Strong typhoons such as Ondoy and Yolanda repeated such experience- they have to rebuild their devastated lives and start all over again.
Badjaos distress of being dislocated. Lack of security of tenure is the greatest threat identified in the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat (SWOT) Analysis Method. Their anxiety is that the government might use the land where they occupy and that they will have to go back to Mindanao. Their nightmare is to be in a war zone once again- everyday they have to fear their lives will cease and suffer indefinitely.
10.High Population Rate
High population rate in the area is an unseen problem for the Badjaos. For them, “the more people in the community, the merrier”. Badjaos are used to dealing with other local residents. Their typical home houses their extended family members, and often, two or more different families. They are willing to welcome others and to house people who need a shelter- even they are not connected by blood. They are warm and accommodating to others who are in dire need.
Tagalog respondents identified early marriage and “dowry” as problems why Badjaos have high population rate.
Early Marriage
Sahaya Ministry leaders identified early marriage among their members as the greatest challenge to the success of their vision- to have their Badjao members finish their college degrees.
According to Maicel H. Saguiran, “teens at the age of as early as thirteen years old or when they reached their puberty stage can already get married”.
Nissa S. Balani said, “Women who reached beyond twenty years old are bullied and called as “old maids”. “They hardly find a mate because young men prefer young women as their partners.”
Sahaya is a Badjao term for light. Sahaya Ministry is a Christian-teaching Ministry that is locally situated in the Badjao community since 2001. It helps residents to become educated by providing scholarship, school supplies, and financial assistance, especially moral and spiritual support.
Nissa is a member of the said ministry and one of the first Badjaos under its literacy program that is expected to finish this year. Her degree is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the AMG Skill Hands Technological College in Bulacan.
Dowry
According to Imam Abu Bakar, “it is part of the Muslim culture for a man to give dowry to the parents of the woman he wants to marry. The amount of money serves as an aid to the bride’s parents and as a gratitude for raising her as a good individual. The amount of dowry ranges from P1,000.00- P15,000.00 depends upon the financial capability of the groom. The amount is discussed among the parents of the couple and the dowry will go to the parents of the bride.
Early marriage in the community is further pushing Badjaos to poverty. In addition to lack of stable income, newly wed young couples unable to support their children because they both stopped attending school once they’ve had a child. Moreover, they hardly find a job.
Dowry on the other hand, is a financial burden on the part of the groom since he is required to give. The money does not go to the “treasure fund” of the couple instead, goes to the parents or sometimes relatives of the bride.
THE CITY IN ACTION
The City envisions a sustainably developed Badjao community: a well-established eco-village that creates opportunities for the local residents to augment their quality of life while preserving their culture and beliefs and becoming productive citizens of the City without compromising the health of the available natural resources around them.
The quest of Otherizing Badjao No More may seem difficult. But according to the late Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” Ala Eh! Bangon Badjao! Sulong Batangueño!
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