Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Donors, gov't help Sarangani evacuees
MAASIM, Sarangani -- Provincial and municipal government officials have been gathering donations from various sectors to help displaced families in the province as government troops pursue rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
As of Monday, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has listed 2,234 families evacuated to safer grounds.
The PDCC reported that 12,249 individuals are estimated to be in 18 evacuation centers managed by the local government units (LGUs).
"We need more medicines. Ayokong may mamatay sa sakit (I don't want to lose lives from sickness)," Governor Miguel Dominguez said in a briefing with employees and volunteers Sunday morning.
Dominguez also emphasized cleanliness and adequacy of potable water for the families. "Dapat malinis ang mga evacuation areas all the time," he said.
The United Nation's Act for Peace has pledged to provide food for 500 families in the next five days.
World Vision is giving food for three days for around 1,000 families.
You Against Corruption And Poverty (Yacap) party-list Representative Carol Lopez arrived to help anything "on top priority" for the evacuees.
At least 300 bags of rice have been distributed to the evacuation centers since August 19 from the Provincial Government and Municipal Government of Maasim.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent a convoy with three truckloads of non-food items on Monday.
Evacuees received sleeping mats, blankets, towels, mosquito nets, buckets, basins, jerry cans, soaps, toothpaste, and toothbrush from ICRC for 1,200 families.
Other non-government organizations (NGOs) helping are Sarangani Province Empowerment and Community Transformation Forum Inc. (Spectrum), Friends of Vice Governor Steve Solon, Makati Mayor Jojo Binay's Office, ABS-CBN and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Items donated were medicines, additional bags of rice, milk, canned goods, noodles, biscuits, dried fish, sugar, and used clothing.
"Our role as your public local officials is to ensure the safety of the innocent civilians," Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon told evacuees Sunday.
For his part, Mayor Aniceto "Jojo" Lopez has instructed municipal employees "to see to it that lahat ng kailangan nila ay maibibigay (all their necessities will be addressed), such as food and water."
"At dapat laging malinis ang area para maiwasan ang sakit (And the evacuation sites must always be clean to avoid diseases)," the mayor said.
According to Jocelyn Lambac, project manager of Kalinaw (Peace) Sarangani Unit under the office of Governor Dominguez, "volunteer organizations and students have been bringing along donations of packed assorted food and clothing."
"We see to it that we are in contact with the civilian evacuees and facilitate their needs," said Ben Solarte, disaster management and quick response team leader.
Volunteer employees from the provincial Capitol have been camping out in Maasim and assisting the local government since fighting broke out.
A lawless group of MILF killed two innocent civilians when they raided Maasim a week ago triggering evacuation in some villages. Military manhunt operations are ongoing.
