By Leilani S. Junio
MANILA, (PNA) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Dinky Soliman appealed to international humanitarian organizations, civil society organizations, and non-government organizations (NGOs) to join hands in helping the City of Zamboanga recover from the devastation brought by the armed conflict between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Nur Misuari faction.
During the Donors’ Forum held Thursday, October 3 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Secretary Soliman presented the P3.89 billion early recovery and rehabilitation plan for Zamboanga City.
Soliman said the recovery and rehabilitation plan includes continued food assistance, construction of shelter units for displaced families, Cash-for Work implementation and livelihood programs.
She also underscored the services that should be done, in addition to the services and interventions currently being provided by DSWD, the LGU of Zamboanga and other line agencies for the affected families.
Soliman disclosed that DSWD continues to conduct supplementary feeding for 20,000 schoolchildren and 3,800 pregnant and lactating mothers, registration of evacuees and issuance of Family Access Cards (FACs), identification of relocation sites, preparation of site and shelter development plans, psycho-social and stress debriefing sessions, especially for the hostages, and engaging partners to ensure speedy recovery of the affected families.
“The DSWD will continue its food assistance to the evacuees until October 2013 but food supply needs to be assured until December this year. To date, the Department has provided P113.19 million for food assistance, non-food items, financial assistance and cash-for-work. We have also mobilized 200 camp managers,” Secretary Soliman explained.
“We need emergency health services for evacuees, additional psychologists for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) sessions, measles vaccination for 6-15 months old children. Approximately 46,000 people whose jobs were lost or disrupted need employment,” she added.
She said the assistance in whatever amount will be greatly appreciated and can reach a long way in helping Zamboanga gets back to its own feet again.
“Anything that is freely given are very much welcome,” she added.
She also reminded the donors to proceed the donation to DSWD office for transparency so that planning and coordination in terms of appropriation for funding will be properly conducted in addressing the rehabilitation according to the degree of urgency of needs of the affected families.
She added that Department of Public Works and Highways headed by its secretary Rogelio Singson was primarily tasked to head the technical working group who will come-out with the necessary plans that will implemented.
To date, 23,794 families or 118,819 persons have been affected by the Zamboanga crisis. Of the number, 18,432 families or 98,789 persons are still staying in 35 evacuation centers. Families outside evacuation centers or those who are staying in their friends’ or relatives’ houses number 3,153 families with 9,462 persons.
The DSWD chief also added that measures to counter the high risk of gender-based violence, child abuse and trafficking have also been instituted including protection assessment, monitoring by police and camp managers, and the establishment of grievance and welfare desks manned by policewomen and social workers.
On health concerns, the DSWD conducts Family Development Sessions (FDS) which integrate demonstration of proper hygiene practices and popularization of IEC materials on hygiene and sanitation.
For her part, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar thanked the DSWD, AFP and all the international humanitarian organizations tht “immediately responded to the crisis and helped our people.”
“I commend the bravery of the soldiers who defended our city during the MNLF siege, and all those in the government, CSOs, NGOs who were here with us all throughout the crisis,” Mayor Salazar stated.
The crisis affected 1,415.07 hectares covering seven barangays.
“Much still needs to be done such as inter-faith dialogues, permanent military and police installation to protect the residents in the conflict areas, project implementation of line agencies to give the people employment, return of the regional center to Zamboanga, and a new location for the international airport,” Mayor Salazar enumerated.
“We are striving very hard to make our situation as normal as possible, especially for our children, our number one constituents, so they may have a brighter future,” she continued.
The Donors’ Forum was attended by the consortium of international humanitarian organizations, namely; UN-OCHA, UNICEF, UNCHR, UNFPA, WHO, IOM, WFP, UNDP, ILO, CFSI, ICRC, Habitat for Humanity, Plan International, OXFAM and Philippine Red Cross.
Representatives from the embassies of Italy, Japan, Spain, France, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and USA were also present to show their respective countries’ support to the humanitarian efforts to rebuild Zamboanga.
Some local organizations, such as PHAP Cares, GMA Kapuso Foundation, PBSP, PRC, Tan Yan Kee Foundation, ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation and Community and Family Services International also signified their support.
Also during the forum, House Speaker from House of Representatives Sonny Belmonte came in also and bring his donation to help rebuild Zamboanga.
According to Belmonte in his desire to be of help in rebuilding Zamboanga he gave away a donation instead of celebrating his birthday.
He said other members of the House of Representatives had also pledged donation which will be deducted from their respective salaries.