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Baguio social welfare office expects more beggars this X’mas

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 16)—Beggars from different provinces started to arrive in the city, and their number is expected to increase during the yuletide season according to the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development (OCSWD).

So many Filipinos resort to begging to survive now that the country is in serious economic crisis. City Social Welfare and Development Officer Betty Fangasan, said in an interview that it is not only our brothers and sisters from the Cordillera who do this kind of activity in the city. She said Badjaos, natives from the Visayan region and Aetas from Central Luzon have been practicing this for seven years in the city, not only during Christmas season but also in summer and the Flower Festival in February.

“This is the time when people from different places visit the city. So it is good timing for them to beg or sell,” Fangasan told NORDIS.

According to Fangasan, typically while the mother sells novelties at one side, the father watches while their children sleep on a piece of carton with an empty can for donations. If someone will give, then the father will immediately collects it. This is the usual practice she said.

The anti-mendicancy law also known as “Bawal Maglimos, Magpalimos” prohibits begging activities. Anyone who engages in asking or giving alms will be punished in accordance with the law. Fangasan said it is very difficult to file a case against the beggars especially the blind because the giving of alms is discreet, and second, they always argue that they are not begging. Fangasanadded they always pose the alibi that they are just waiting for their next appointment or schedule of training in reflexology.

Poor tourist

The OCSWD agreed it is difficult to implement the law. “The beggars from other provinces always argue – is Baguio only for the rich tourists? How about poor tourists like us?”, Ms. Fangasan quoted the beggars as saying.

The City has provided alternative employment for the sightless. According to Fangasan, 80-90% OCSWD clients are fully employed in the massage business.

“We have established three groups of reflexologists – the Good Care, Vismar, and the Federation of the Blind. We also have the Information Center for the Blind which encourages trainings,” she added.

From begging to working

Mang Robert has been a reflexology practitioner for five years already. He used to be a beggar, playing the guitar at the overpass in Abanao Street. According to him, he used to earn P100-P150 a day during ordinary days and P200-P300 on holidays.

Mang Robert trained as a masseuse at the School for the Blind in Dagupan City. Now, he is proud of his job.

“Mahirap at nakakapagod ang pagmamasahe. Pero marangal naman kumpara sa pamamalimos,” Mang Robert says. He now earns P150-P300 a day. Most of the time he is servicing a maximum of three customers a day. A day’s work for him means one whole body massage and two half-body massages. For every whole body service, Mang Robert gets P130 from the P190 service fee that customers pay at the center. The remaining P60 goes to secretary’s fee and other needs such as alcohol, oil, and bed sheets, laundry services and other clinic needs. For every half-body and partial massage, only 7% will be deducted for operational expenses.

In an interview with some Baguio residents, they appreciate this move of the government to support the blind. But they also expressed the reality that the root problem is unemployment. The government should seriously act on this problem. Vigilant surveillance will be helpful to control begging activities and more jobs for non-blind beggars, according to the interviewees who requested anonymity. # Joel A. Capulong for NORDIS

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