Davao City opens its doors to IPs for the holidays

DAVAO CITY, Dec 8 (PIA) More than eleven thousand families of indigenous peoples are now allowed to ask for Christmas gifts from city residents up to December 26.

 Liwayway Caligdong, assistant chief of the City Social Services and Development Office said the indigenous peoples are allowed to stay in eight centers in the city where they are provided with food, shelter, water and health services.

 She clarified that the IPs come here not to ask for alms but to wish residents the joy of sharing this Christmas.

 Caligdong said that the number of IPs increased from 8,000 families in 2013 to 11,126 families in 2014.

 “We will serve all of them even those who do not come from the highlands of the city,” she said.

 Dolly Remojo of the City Environment and Natural Resources said their task is to ensure the cleanliness of the surroundings of the eight convergence points where the IPs have to stay for the rest of December.

She said there are eight gymnasiums in the city where they have to stay temporarily particularly in the districts of Bunawan, Toril, Buhangin, Mintal, Tugbok, Calinan, Barangay 5-A and Matina-Aplaya.

 “Street-sweepers have to work on three shifts in every area to ensure that cleanliness will be observed,” Remojo said.

 Dr. Samuel Cruz, assistant city health officer said health personnel will be present in shelter-homes for 24 hours until December 26 to look after the health of the IPs.

 He said the CHO will provide health assistance also in three shifts.

“Our guidance is that no one must die among the IPs given the outmost health care provided for them,” Cruz pointed out.

Engr. Andy Lipardo of the City Engineers’ Office said the CEO will provide the mobility of the IPs from one shelter to the other, provided one shelter is already filled with visitors.

He said the IPs are given up to December 26 before they are delivered home. 

Lipardo said the CEO will also provide for the water needs of the IPs so that    they can take baths, cleaning of comfort rooms and wash their clothes accordingly. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)