Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Peace fund for Sarangani war victims By Russtum G. Pelima
ALABEL, Sarangani -- The Provincial Government, Sarangani Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and other private and people's organizations have forged a partnership to raise and manage money for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Called the Balik-Kalinaw Sarangani (BKS), the project is a grant giving body formed in a tripartite agreement by the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation Inc. (AF), SCCI, and the Provincial Government, with the AF as "secretariat" and "fund manager".
"We will harness our funds collectively to be able to generate more resources," said Cecile Dominguez, AF executive director.
The BKS, Dominguez said, is a mechanism to prepare for future situations and help people affected by social disorganization to start rebuilding their lives.
"It's really a movement, a form of synergy of private sectors and government to come together to work, to move forward from all of these experiences that had happened to us," Dominguez said.
A Memorandum of Understanding for BKS was signed September 5 at the Handog Pasasalamat Program for donors and volunteers at the Capitol lobby.
Donors and volunteers helped in the relief operations for some 12,000 residents who became IDPs in Maasim town last month in the wake of the August 18 attack by rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Maasim poblacion that killed two innocent civilians.
"We have enough volunteers, we have enough people on the ground, so combined with resources I think we can make a great difference," Dominguez added.
Senator Mar Roxas acknowledged volunteers and donors who joined Sarangani and Maasim local government during the relief operation.
"As I listen to our sharers, I think no one in his rational mind would risk his life," said Roxas, the event guest speaker.
"But it's because of love that comes from the heart," Roxas said. "It's the love we have to our fellowmen, to our province, and to our country, which we are celebrating today."
Governor Miguel Dominguez told Capitol officials and employees: "In times of crises, we have to be there whom people look up not only as officials but especially as public servants."
"And we made it possible. The reason why people always come to us for help is because they believe in us," the governor said.
"When the people need us, let us show them that we are there and will not run rom all these problems," Maasim Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr. said.
Republic Act (RA) 7160, otherwise known as the local government code, prescribes the province, through the Office of the Governor, to work together with peoples' organizations and non-government organizations "to cooperate amongst each other in order to create a project".
BKS will work "to provide relief assistance to IDPs, assist in the rebuilding of lives in peace and security in longer terms, and provide accurate, unbiased, timely and sustained information to the world about Sarangani during crisis."
