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)

Permanent Shelters Turn-Over to IDPs in Datu Piang, Maguindanao

24 July 2009


Datu Piang, Maguindanao – Two hundred families of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the different barangays of this municipality who are now housed in the evacuation centers are recipients of the P10 million worth of permanent shelters being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD central office has released an initial P5 million for the construction of one hundred (100) permanent shelters for the IDPs in an estimated area of two (2) hectares as relocation site at Barangay Poblacion.

During the turn-over ceremony of checks to individual beneficiaries initiated by officials from the DSWD Region 12, DSWD-ARMM and Local Government Units of Datu Piang town on July 22, 2009 at the relocation site, one hundred (100) households received checks of P50,000 each for the construction of their houses.

DSWD-ARMM Regional Secretary Bai Soraida Biruar said that the construction of permanent shelters for the IDPs is part of Autonomous Regional Government’s persistent efforts to help the unfortunate condition of the evacuees.

In Datu Piang alone, almost four thousand (4,000) Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are still in the different evacuation centers since armed conflict between government forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front erupted in August 2008.

The remaining P5 million for the additional construction of 100 permanent shelters will be released upon completion of the 70 units of the 1st batch of 100, said DSWD-12 representative Ms. Norhata Kanakan Benito.

Aside from the P50,000, household recipients also have an additional cash for work worth P1,550 each for the construction work for their own house, added Benito.

The awarding of the checks was spearheaded by the local officials of Datu Piang headed by its Administrator Mr. Ben Carandang and Mr. Musib Tan, representatives of DSWD-12 Ms. Norhata Benito and Mr. James Tamayo, Maguindanao provincial social welfare officer Ms. Elsie Amil and BCH-ARMM executive director Hadja Bai Badria Andamen. (bpi-armm)

DSWD-ARMM Conduct Community Assembly in MAguindanao and Lanao Sur

July 24, 2009


Cotabato City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) has organized a series of community assembly in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps on July 20 and 22, 2009 respectively.

The community assembly is an initial activity for the implementation of the 4Ps in the province purposely to identify and conduct orientation to potential beneficiaries of the program on its benefits and some conditionality of the program.

Bai Soraida Biruar DSWD-ARMM Regional Secretary said that recipients include pregnant women, families that have children ages from zero to fourteen (0-14) years old and currently enrolled in school and must be also below poverty line.

DSWD-ARMM in collaboration with the Local Government Units of Matanog, Maguindanao province and Pikong, Lanao del Sur identified 3,869 households from the eight (8) barangays of Matanog and 2,032 households from nineteen (19) villages of Pikong.

The 4Ps is a five year program of the national government which was conceived and started in 2008 in response to the global economic meltdown.

It also intends to alleviate poverty incidence that provides cash grants to extremely poor families not only in the ARMM but also in the entire country.

Every household will receive monthly cash grants of P1,400 for five years for health services and education of maximum of three (3) children. Each child will have P300 intended for his/her education with the total amount of P900 for the 3 children while the P500 will be used for the family’s basic health service.

Recently, DSWD-ARMM officials together with the local government units (LGUs) of Datu Saudi Ampatuan identified 945 households from its 14 Barangays, 1,378 households from 18 Barangays of Mamasapano and 679 households from 9 Barangays of Datu Unsay municipality.

The 4Ps program has been launched last month in the province of Lanao del Sur where 1,659 households from the town of Ditsaan-Ramain and 1,244 families from Bubong municipalities have benefited 4Ps through cash gifts. (bpi-armm)

5 Million Pesos for Permanent Shelters

5 Million Pesos for Permanent Shelters-DSWD 12 Resident Auditor, Mr James Tamayo (2nd right) and Datu Piang Municipal Administrator Mr. Ben Carandang (right) hand over the P50,000 worth of check to one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in the municipality of Datu Piang, Maguindanao province for the construction of a permanent shelter. The checks (inset) amounting to five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) is given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office through DSWD-12 and DSWD-ARMM as an initial release for the contruction of 100 out of 200 approved permanent shelters for the IDPs in the said municipality. .(omar mangorsi/bpi-armm)

PERMANENT SHELTERS

PERMANENT SHELTERS- Initial 100 on-going construction of 200 approved permanent shelters for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) from the different Barangays of Datu Piang Municipality, in the province of Maguindanao (omar mangorsi/bpi-armm).

4Ps Program

4Ps Program – DSWD-ARMM Assistant Secretary Pombaen Kader orients potential beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps from the eight (8) Barangays of the municipality of Matanog in the province of Maguindanao on Monday, July 20, 2009 at the Matanog Municipal Gymnasium. The 4Ps is a 5-year program of the national government to help curb poverty incidence in the country through monthly cash allocations of P300 per child with maximum of three (3) children each household intended for their education and another P500 for the nutrition and health services of the entire family.

Maguindanao IDPs receive cash assistance

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.