Shelter program benefits war-torn villages

Friday, January 27, 2012

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Two war-torn villages in Kabacan, North Cotabato are the newest addition to beneficiaries of the core shelter program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), under its project Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana), a local official said.

Buenaventura Pacania of the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) in Kabacan town identified the barangays of Pedtad and Nangaan as two of the many beneficiaries of Pamana, an internally-displaced persons (IDP) shelter project of the Opapp, in North Cotabato province.

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Pacania said barangays Pedtad and Nangaan were among the areas in North Cotabato affected by the August 2008 wars led by Commander Ameril Umbra Kato, a former leader of the 105th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Reports reaching the MPDO and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) said at least 100 houses were razed when the fighting became intense three years ago.

Even in February last year, the villages became sites of the armed fighting between the MILF and the mainstream Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) where thousands of families evacuated to safer areas for fear they might be caught in the cross fires.

While many of the evacuees during the 2008 wars had already returned to their villages, many of them have yet to recover from the losses they incurred because of the skirmishes, the MPDO official said.

"Hundreds of Moro families have lost their homes, their farm animals, and other properties during the wars," said Pacania.

To discuss how the war victims could avail of the project, the MPDO would conduct next week assemblies at the barangays.

The Pamana aims at ensuring target beneficiaries benefit from the improved delivery of basic social services of the government.

It also aims at reducing poverty and vulnerability of the communities through its core shelter program and cash assistance projects.