Wandering aetas in city told to go home
Panay-Guimaras Ati Federation President Gregorio Elosendo said he will try to convince indigenous peoples (IPs) who are loitering in the different streets in the city to return to their respective communities.
Elosendo said they had been exerting effort in persuading the wandering aetas to return home. The problem on the aetas has already been brought to the attention of the National Culture on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Elosendo admitted that the aetas who are sleeping on the streets and fly-overs are lazy. A typical aeta, he said, is bent in looking for food to feed his family.
At present there are eight IP communities in Iloilo located in Barangay Poblacion Sitio Tarog, Nueva Valencia; Barangay San Nicolas Sitio Sirom, Buenavista; Barangay Lipata Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo; Barangay Mostro, Anilao; Barangay San Miguel Sitio Kati-Kati, Jordan in the province of Guimaras; Barangay Maabay Sitio Liningwan, Sibunag in Guimaras, Barangay Camiros Sitio Bugnay, Anilao and Barangay Badiang Sitio Balagon, Anilao.
He said if there is enough assistance for the IP communities they could perhaps convince their members to return home.
Government and non-government organizations extend assistance to the IP communities but it is not enough to transform their lives. They want an extensive program to address their socio and economic problems from land ownership, education, livelihood, employment and health.
Elosendo said in the previous administration, the IP communities which are already educated requested the local government to pass an ordinance which prohibits the IPs from wandering in the city.
However, the local officials declined their request saying it could backtrack to them as they might violate the rights of the IP. They are afraid that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will run after them, said Elosendo.
