A total of 225 Sama-Bajau families in Batangas and Quezon provinces are provided educational assistance in support for their school needs. This is through the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and Indigenous Peoples, especially Sama-Bajaus, developed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The said comprehensive program is a new social technology that aims to achieve zero incidences of children, families and Sama-Bajaus in the streets. Families living and working in the streets are provided with different forms of assistance, which include provision of livelihood trainings, permanent shelter and educational cash support.

The DSWD, through the partnership with local government units in areas with Sama-Bajau communities are implementing the said program.

In the CALABARZON Region, identified Sama-Bajau communities are in Batangas City and Balayan in Batangas Province and Lucena City in Quezon Province.

Each of the identified Sama-Bajau children who are currently in school were provided PhP2,000 educational assistance to help them with their needs such as uniforms, shoes and school supplies.

“Maraming salamat po sa gobyerno dahil binibigyan kami ng ganitong tulong. Gagamitin namin ito para makabili ng school supplies at pambaon ng aming mga anak,” said Benzar Gadzalie, a Sama-Bajau leader in Brgy. Barra in Lucena City, who received PhP4,000 as educational assistance for his two children.

To date, the DSWD, through its Field Office IV-A, is releasing the said assistance to the children’s families. Around 160 beneficiaries had already received this assistance and the rest will be provided with the said support until September this year.# with reports from ABColorico