Sama-Bajaus in tribal communities in the CALABARZON Region thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the assistance provided to their tribe, particularly in helping them improve their living condition.

In a recently conducted Program Review and Evaluation Workshop facilitated by the DSWD Field Office IV-A, Sama-Bajaus in communities in Batangas City and Balayan, Batangas Province and Lucena City, Quezon Province shared how the government has been helping them in recognizing their capabilities and becoming active members of their community.

The said activity gathered Sama-Bajau leaders and beneficiaries, barangay officials and local government units to assess the implementation of the  Empowering Learning Sessions for Indigenous Peoples Initiatives (ELIPI). The ELIPI is,a learning tool that helps build the potentials of Sama-Bajaus by teaching them their rights and responsibilities and capacitating them to develop self-reliance.

The ELIPI is being implemented in the three Sama-Bajau areas, and the DSWD has trained members of the indigenous peoples (IP) group as facilitators of the said sessions in their respective communities.

Manjoy Marlin, a Sama-Bajau from Batangas City, expressed her gratitude to the programs and services of DSWD provided for them.

“Sa tulong ng DSWD, natuto akong mangarap. Hindi ko akalain na may kaya pala akong gawin para baguhin pa ang buhay ko. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng tumutulong sa’min para patuloy nang mabago ang buhay namin,” said Marlin.

Benzar Gadzalie, a tribal leader from Lucena City and an ELIPI facilitator, shared that he is now proud of his tribe because of the lessons taught to them by the ELIPI and the programs of the DSWD including the Comprehensive Program for Sama-Bajau and the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

“Hindi na namin nararamdaman ang diskriminasyon. Tuwang-tuwa ako sa mga ka-tribo ko dahil nag-aaral na ang mga bata at malinis na ang mga tahanan. Natuto na rin kami ng magagandang asal katulad ng paggamit ng po at opo at pagmamano ng mga bata sa nakatatanda,” shared Gadzalie.

Rene Pamai, another Sama-Bajau from Balayan, Batangas, said that people like him learned to deal with other people outside their tribe.

“Dati, mababa ang tingin nila sa amin, pero ngayon, natuto na kaming makisalamuha sa kanila. Hindi na kami natatakot dahil marunong na rin kaming mangarap,” said Pamai.

Working together for the Sama-Bajaus

The local government units (LGUs) of the said areas, during the activity, committed to work hand in hand with the DSWD and the tribal groups to help improve the living condition of the Sama-Bajaus.

Brgy. Captain Mamerto Marasigan of Brgy. Wawa in Batangas City acknowledged the positive changes he observed among the Sama-Bajaus in their village.

“Nakakatuwang makita na karamihan sa kanila ngayon ay marunong nang magsulat at malinis nang manamit. Patuloy naming susuportahan ang mga programa para sa kanila para tuloy-tuloy ang pagbabago sa buhay nila,” Marasigan said.

For 2016, the LGUs of Lucena City, Batangas City and the town of Balayan commit to continuously implement their programs and services for the Sama-Bajaus including the Barangay ID System, Alternative Learning System, day care services, and maternal and child care sessions. They also commit to work with non-government organizations, other government agencies and private groups to improve or create more opportunities for the IP group.

Meanwhile, DSWD IV-A Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno thanked the LGUs and the partners for continuously working together for the welfare of the Sama-Bajaus. She also encouraged the Sama-Bajaus to help their respective families.

“Ang mga suporta mula sa LGUs at sa ibang partners ay tulong lang sa inyo. Pero ang pagbabago sa buhay n’yo ay sa inyo manggagaling kaya patuloy kayong magsumikap para sa mga pamilya n’yo,” Dir. Diokno shared to the participants during the activity.# with reports from JNodora