RDCC-ARMM Conduct Continues Coordination Meeting with Humanitarian Partners

July 24, 2009


COTABATO CITY - The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is conducting continuous coordination meetings with regional lines agencies and partner humanitarian groups assisting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the conflict affected areas in the region.

Diamadel Dumagay, executive director of the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) of the ARMM in a meeting with members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the RDCC-ARMM and representatives from donor institutions and non-government organizations on July 6, 2009 said that the regional government under the administration of Regional governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan is doing every possible means to provide the needs of the IDPs.

He said the regional governor directed the regional line agencies involved in the relief operation to immediately facilitate the requirements of the IDPs in the region.

Dumagay reiterated that the regional government recognizes the support extended by the humanitarian partners working in the ground assisting the government agencies in providing the needs of the IDPs in the evacuation centers.

During the meeting, partner humanitarian and government agencies gave updates on the extent of assistance given to evacuees and issues met during the delivery of these services.

With Dumagay, Director Ramil Masukat of the Technical Management Service who also acts as Chairman of the TWG and Focal person of the RDCC, said coordination meetings are important for members of the TWG and humanitarian partners to share their activities, schedules of distribution and issues and concerns especially recommendations for the delivery of relief services.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region , which has the task to lead the relief operation and to check the status and the appropriate action for the IDPs with the Department of Health (DOH) –ARMM reported that they are continuing their relief and health services to the IPDs who are still in the different evacuation centers in the province with support from humanitarian partners.

Reports as of July 22, 2009 from DSWD-ARMM shows that there are still 54,383 families (271,045 individuals) IDPs from the 109 affected barangays in Maguindanao. Armed conflict in Maguindanao starts on August 19, 2008.

The same report states that as of July 22, 2009, 41,037 families (197,227 persons) are still living in the 138 evacuation centers while 8,942 families (43,084 persons) are outside evacuation centers or “home-based”.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that as of (July 6) it has distributed 1,407.06 metric tons of rice to 41,884 IDP families while Action Contra Hunger/Famine (ACF) installed the last three (3) hand pumps of the 15 hand pumps at Mamasapano, Maguindanao. ACF also conducted water testing to the 15 hand pumps installed.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that they had given as its technical assistance the Human Resource Monitoring System (HRMS) to be installed at the DWSW-ARMM office. The system will show all the activities of the donor agencies and humanitarian partners including their services to the IDPs.

On July 13, upon the directive of the regional executive, the Office on Civil Defense (OCD)-ARMM and Nactional Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in coordination with the Provincial government of Maguindanao released P10,000 and P5,000 financial assistance to families of victims who died of illness or due to crossfire and to wounded IDP respectively.

As of July 22, DSWD-ARMM received from DSWD 12 P5-M worth of permanent shelter for 100 IDP families in Datu Piang. DSWD-ARMM Secretary Bai Soraida Biruar said that another 100 shelters will be constructed for the evacuees. Each shelter costs P50,000. The approved project costs of the permanent shelters is P2 M.

The UNFPA in its report states that they have distributed 1,715 hygiene kits to pregnant and lactating mothers in Maguindanao.

The Department of Education (DOH) –ARMM reported that they have facilitated the preparation of the Learning Module for Emergency education, Drop Out Reduction program for secondary and learning Exemplar modified in school approach and facilitated the implementation of Temporary Learning Space on designated evacuation centers.

Issues and concerns presented by the service providers in the ground like the identification of legitimate IDPs (how to identify legitimate IDPs) were discussed. Recommendations include the use of family access cards, conduct of cross validation of IDPs between barangay chair of affected and host municipalities and un-announced issuance of coupon to IDPs. (bpi-armm)