Aetas told not to beg in San Fernando (Sun. Star Nov. 12, 2007)

Aetas told not to beg in San Fernando
By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- More than 30 Aetas finding a temporary shelter in an abandoned car wash area along Tiomico Street are now without means of survival, as the city warned them not to beg in any part of the city in accordance with the existing “anti-begging law.”

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Center for Indigenous Peoples (CIP) also advised the Aetas huddled in a vacant lot reportedly owned by certain Arthur Alfonso, not to beg for safety reasons. According to Rose Lopez of CIP, they were concerned about the possible danger to the lives of Aetas who beg in the city’s streets. “They usually come to beg because of the coming Christmas season. We advised them not to beg because it’s dangerous in the streets and some of them even have children with them,” Lopez said.

The 30 Aetas came from the highlands of Porac and Tarlac. They have bonded together as a group when they met in the city. According to the caretaker of the empty abandoned car wash, the owner good-heartedly allowed the group to stay in the place.

“The owner allowed them to stay here out of compassion and they also help in watching over the area. This place used to be frequented by drug addicts before they stayed here,” the caretaker said.

Maria Impyao, one of the leaders of the group, said the advice of the DSWD and CIP was “heartless.” They said begging is the only short term solution for them to survive.

“They prevent us from begging because it’s not good to the image of San Fernando but the government has not been giving us any support,” Impayao said, adding that if not for the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, they would not resort to begging.

“Before Pinatubo erupted we do not go down here from the mountains to beg, but for some years there was no stable support given to us,” Impayao added.

During the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, various Aeta tribes in Central Luzon’s mountain villages were displaced in different resettlement areas. Volcanic debris destroyed most of their livelihood. Due to lack of serious programs and funding from the local and National Government, most Aetas in Pampanga and Tarlac areas have still to bounce back from the effects of the eruption. Studies of other Aeta communities in the areas of Zambales reveal that Pampanga and Tarlac Aeta’s were left out compared to their other counterparts. “We are only remembered by politicians during elections when we are herded to election precincts to vote for them and after that they leave us,” Impayao said. Impayao also said the City Government should be more compassionate about their situation. She said they will still beg in the city despite DSWD’s advice for them not to.