DAUIS – A tale of a Badjao tribe that settled for years now is a story of non-stop struggle for survival in terms of livelihood, literacy and being perceived as “outcast.” Only about five to seven out of 25 Badjao kiddies enduring Day Care attention make it to pre-schooling and more than 90% of the entire population of almost 500, including adults, are illiterate. This is the stark reality facing the Badjao tribe, said chieftain Mario Cuham in an exclusive interview during the ocular visit of a 15-man group of professors, students and consultants from different colleges and universities based in Manila taking public administration 324 on special issues of social development. Two Day Care sessions a day -- one in the morning and another in the afternoon -- are being held just for Badjao children aged 2-4. It is housed in a hall erected within the shoreline of barangay Totolan of this town. Each session comprised of some 24 kids with two-person teaching force, Marina Cuham-Guba, his daughter and Marife Tahakim-Melencion.

Cuham-Guba and Tahakim-Melencion, who are both Badjaos themselves, are products of the government-sponsored education for them. After they graduated, they dedicated their services to their fellow kin. The chieftain admitted that it would be hard for them to embrace new challenges and environment because of their culture of being a never-ending seafarer tribe. He said he was born in Zambonga but grow up here. His reaction was referring to the earlier plan for them to be rehabilitated in upland of this town as confirmed by Totolan barangay chairman. He said their lives hugely depend on fishing, which they find it's getting harder and harder because of stringent measures and banning some of the ways in catching fish aside from the diminishing fish catch. He particularly raised the concern of banning the spear fishing the waters off Tubigon town. He said they are not anymore using the “boso” or “compressor” since they are already aware these are banned in this town and other places. If his men are apprehended using other deleterious fishing methods, they are ready to pay for that. But why are they are being prohibited to catch “tangigue” or tuna by spear fishing. These species are abundant off the island of Bagongbanwa, Taubigon.

He said that continuing education for their tribe are far as fishing is concerned is very much needed and welcome. But he expressed worry that if the government will be more and more strict in fishing methods, what would they do and where would they go from here. When they attempt to secure permit from Tubigon authorities to fish by use of spear they were denied. He's now wondering if spear fishing also prohibited in this town. Worse, he said, there's also a move by some towns that only their constituents are allowed to fish in their respective seawater. Is it not that the sea is for everybody, he asked. He thanked the provincial government, government agencies concerned, non-government organizations and other well-meaning sectors in their sad plight in extending support for them by pumping assistance, financial and in kind, particularly in education.

The Badjaos are having a shared dwellings with “poor home condition, usually with one room serves as sala, bedroom, dining and kitchen,” and “poor sanitation where trash and garbage are just thrown and bowled under their houses raised above sea level,” according to the paper entitled Prosperity Program for Badjao Tribe. The situation, the paper said, “customarily stimulates for incestuous relationship.” During the visit, this really is the real situation. On livelihood, 75% of them are engaged in fishing earning only between PhP1,000 and PhP1,500 per catch. Some of them (6%) are into vending, selling “borloloy” and 13% engaging in mendicancy, exploiting their children that has become a “tourist attraction” or “tourist irritation.” To some, they're “eye-sores.” On education, some 49 out of about 175 children are studying elementary; seven in high school and only one in college being aided by Panaghoy Children Foundation, a local NGO, the paper said. The Dept. of Education has detailed one teacher in Alternative Learning System (ALS) enrolled some 18 out-of-school youth and adults.

Meanwhile, provincial board member Godofreda Tirol has responded to the visiting group and took the cudgels in explaining to them how the Bohol Children's Code has become the bible for caring the youth during the forum at the SP session conference room. It has flourished and guided in establishing the Bohol Crisis Intervention Center (BCIC) for children and girls in distress as well as other activities based on the provisions of the Code. The group was divided into visitations of the BCIC and the Badjaos. The group was accompanied by Totolan barangay captain and Lito Responte of said barangay. The group composed of Zita Concepcion P. Calugay of Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) UP Diliman; Ricarte Origenes, University of Sto. Tomas; Maria Susan J. Lucero, Independent Development consultant; Suzie Benitez, Philippine Women's University Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation; Mark Anthony D. Abenir, UST; Dulcena Ortega, private consultant; Fleur Jasmine I. Rey, Far Eastern University; Dennis N. Marasigan, St. Scholastica College; Adolf Moises S. Nicolas, Asian Development Bank; Michelle Domingo Palacpac, Asian Development Bank; Ana B. Allig, Kalinga; Noemi A. Morfe, National Food  Authority central  office; Alegria Ferrer, College of Music, UP; Joi Nacario, House of Representatives; and Ranjit Rye, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy UP. (RVO)