New Home Built for IDPs

30 homeless IDP families sharing shelter with their respective relatives were provided with Core Shelters at Brgy. Balintad, Munai, Lanao Del Norte.

Lessons Learned from IDP Livelihood Project: An MNLF Combatant Reflection

Kumander Leopoldo Lalang (left) and Kumander Johnny 

Akbar (right) reflecting lessons on livelihood projects

provided to conflict affected communities.

“Right after the signing of historic September 2, 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the GRP and MNLF, huge amount of money were poured by agencies for IDPs livelihood project, but heartbreakingly, money were just wasted...worst of all, money mismanagement destroyed our brotherhood and sisterhood” a sad sharing of Commander Johnny Akbar also known as “Ka Johnny” and Commander Leopoldo Lalangan also known as Ka Polds, both MNLF Combatant Peace Champion during their recent meeting with the Mindanao Journey.

Ka Johnny and Ka Polds observed that many agencies repeatedly use the same strategy of organizing 20-30 member People’s Organization (PO) on every livelihood project support to IDPs, but still, failure re-occurs. I then asked why?

Ka Johnny said “There are 3 main reasons that we know why livelihood projects for conflict affected community fails”.

           

“First - Most PO leaders were military commanders. 1 year series of seminars is not enough to empower poor PO members in the rural conflict affected areas to question how their leaders manage their funds”.

“Second -Poor civilians in the rural conflict affected communities need quick income to feed their families daily. Their family will starve to death if they wait until patronage refund will be distributed to members”.

“Third-Most seminars focus on organizational and livelihood development. We observed that, no matter how successful the PO was, members remained poor because there is no immediate impact of the livelihood to the members. If a 30 member PO have net income of PhP300K/year, it means PhP27/member/day income-not enough to feed their family. Only the PO or Cooperative grows, the members remained poor in conflict affected community setting”.

With much interest on the discussion, I then asked “what do you think Ka Johnny and Ka Polds are the appropriate strategy for a livelihood project to be successful?”

Ka Johnny and Ka Polds answered “We suggest that supporting agencies must re-strategize to prevent committing of the same mistake as always happening”.

1.   Supporting agency must integrate continuous social preparation activities not only to rebuild community confidence to work with the government but also to develop their confidence and full potential in expanding and sustaining their livelihood project”;
2. Market driven practical skills seminar in partnership with TESDA or DTI is perfect for immediate application and practice of quick impact livelihood project that if possible could command daily income i.e. hair dressing skills training with business plan then support to parlor establishment with equipments and materials, etc.”;
3. Livelihood intervention might consider micro-lending concept in clustered type base from their individual simple business plan (if they’ll repay 100%, they could have it back as reward to be used for their business expansion). i.e. group of 5 for easy monitoring and management. In this way, funds will be distributed equitable, thus, benefits and income is measured per household. Dole out mentality will be eliminated”; and
4. Establish and/or support to sustainability mechanism and plans for community public market center with public vehicle terminal. This will become their central commerce and gateway for their agri-product external market linkages”.

“Since the GRP-MNLF 1996 FPA livelihood project lots of livelihood project was given to conflict affected communities, then, eventually failed. We hope that bad history on livelihood project will NOT repeat itself” Ka Johnny ended.

Evacuation to Recovery: A Mindanaoan IDP Woman Story

Transcribed below was an interview of Mr. Misuari “Jake” Abdullah, ERRCM Technical Assistant on February 22, 2012 to Mrs. Kadiguia Zambaga (38 y.o.), married to Mr. Datucan Zumbaga (41 y.o.) with six (6) children namely Hawla (16 y.o.), Jehan (13 y.o.), Hamida (9 y.o.), Bai (7 y.o.), Zuharto (5 y.o.),  and Omar (2 y.o.)

The Evacuation: Loud cries out of fear from my children rattled me more aside from being afraid of stray bullet on August 8, 2008 when armed confrontation happens between 6IB AFP and MILF led by Umbra Kato as triggered by the failure of GRP and MILF to resolve the consensus points stated in the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). 2 of my children survived from being drowned while crossing the Pamalian creek, but our neighbours’ one little girl was drowned to death while fleeing. We didn’t have single centavo money during the evacuation, we left everything except the clothes in our body, the 1 cooking pot, and 3 old plates that I brought.

In the Evacuation Sites: With eyes filled with tears, we reach the unfinished Buisan rice mill in Pikit town (13 kms from Pamalian) and use it as our evacuation center together with over a hundred families. My heart was broken seeing my children starved from hunger aside from the dirty sleeping place that night. Yes we have 3 plates and 1 cooking pot, but, we have nothing to cook. Thanks for the foods supplies that came the next day. For over 2 months stay, our family suffered an untold difficulty of poverty living caused by hunger, diseases, crowded shelter sharing with over a hundred families, etc. MILF and GRP said they are fighting for the safeguard of civilians, but, we civilians are casualties. It is almost horrible to imagine witnessing how tens of children and old ones suffered and died of diseases in our evacuation center.

Our Sad Return: After over 2 months, we were advised to vacate the evacuation center and then transferred and built makeshift tent to Brgy. Manaulanan and stayed for 5 days before we finally found our self very happy and excited to return in our own house, yet, tears of sorrow falls because our house turned to ashes as it was included to those other houses that were burned by military soldiers. I can’t explain the hurt I had that time seeing my children crying and holding the ashes of our burnt house. We then returned and construct makeshift tent at the bank of Pamalian creek where my family got sick due to continues rain and short meals. After 2 days, we were offered by the BLGU to occupy the abandoned Barangay Hall where we live along with other 5 families since November 2008. We defecate elsewhere and the only source of our drinking water is the shall dug well. 6 families living in one shelter is really challenging because there are times that we just witness how other families take their meals while we are starving from hunger-this is the most painful repetitive scene to me as a mother of 6 children...very hurting. True with our Barangay Captains’ quote “ Barangay Pamalian is Barangay Pinag-iwanan”, so as the IDP communities within.

Thanks God, ERRCM Revived Our Well Being: I thought that the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation Rapid Needs Assessment we undergone in June 2011 facilitated in by the technical departments of MLGU Pikit along with the PLGU North Cotabato will be useless, nevertheless, currenthly through the ERRCM, a lot of positive changes happened:

·   Before… we are forced to fit our 9 family members along with 5 more families in the dilapidated old barangay hall, yet, our family alone now live in a core shelter;

·   Before… we defecate elsewhere, but, now we go to the recently completed latrines;

·   Before… we fetch water from unsafe shallow dug well for water drinking, however, we have now access to safe water from the jetmatic pump located 10 meters from our new house;

·   Before…my children said, the over one hundred elementary pupils forced to fit in small dilapidated school building, however, they are now currently occupying the newly constructed school building committed by DepEd to ERRCM as counterpart during the onset of the ERRCM;

Soon, the on-going construction of BHS and school building from ERRCM, the on-going Masjid construction, the recently completed school building from Dep-Ed, and the Multi-purpose building from PLGU of Cotabato will be completed and operational. Indeed, they will surely improve our social services. We also hope that the small livelihood project and the Bio-Intensive Gardening from ERRCM will help us towards economic recovery. We hope that the many blessings provided by the government and other agencies to include ERRCM as well as our current peaceful living shall be sustained. My family and my fellow constituents have recovered now. Thanks to the EU, UNDP, World Food Programme, MinDA, Provincial and Local Government Units and to the MAPAD because we have at least recovered... Mrs. Kadiguia Zambaga ended.

Managing Performance in Peacebuilding: ACT for Peace Programme Framework for Conflict-Sensitive Monitoring and Evaluation

GPH UNDP EU ERRCM Intervention facilitated Reconciliation of Moro-Christian Village Boundary Conflict

Galidan (100% Moro) and Damawatu (90% Christians) had been in conflict since 2000. Several initiatives were done already conflict continues. GPH UNDP EU ERRCM mobilized Cotabato PLGU and Tulunan MLGU key department agencies fro the conduct of a joint Damawatu-Galidan RNA where respective BLGUs and IDP leaders were housed jointly. 

Series of Peace-constituency initiatives was conducted in partnership with Maguindanaon Development Foundation, Inc. and Tulunan MLGU such as Joint COP workshop, Dialogue, etc. were designed for the conciliation process, thus, during the 2011 MWOP celebration, Sec. Luwalhati R. Antonino, Gov. Lala Taliño-Medoza, Mayor Lani Cadulado, AFP, PNP, PLGU, BLGU, other agencies, and community leader witnessed the reconciliation of Galidan and Damawatu as manifested by the signing of:

1. Damawatu-Galidan 100 hectare Boundary Conflict Settlement  and             

2.Damawatu-Galidan Joint Declaration of Sanctuary of Peace and Progress. 

2011 Mindanao Week of Peace Celebration supported by ERRCM

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

Lazy Way to Successful Pest Management

Please see attached successful way to lazy farming system.

PERA SA WATER HYACINTH

The Ligawasan Marsh which covers provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Maguindanao is having a hard time trying to grapple with the problem of hyacinth or water lily that clogs lakes and rivers, causing floods, and may have contributed to fish kills.

Water hyacinth absorbs oxygen needed by marine life and threaten the livelihood of poor fishermen, threatens places downstreams from flood, etc.

In other countries or even withing Philippines like Naga City, water hyacinths posed livelihood opportunity through processing it into charcoal. A charcoal briqueting machine is needed in order to process the water hyacinth into charcoal, of course, technical knowledge and skills, social marketing, and allocation of fund by the government agencies and other NGOs is among the key to turn the problem of water hyacinth into income generation.

Should this opportunity be shared to the rural communities and provide them pump priming capital, we could at last say that "MAY PERA PALA SA WATER HYACINTH".

Coconut Sugar Processing

Hello! I hope that this presentation will help those who wanted to learn coconut sugar processing.

This presentation was shared during the 2011 BIMP-EAGA Trade Fair cum Oro Best Expo at SM City, Cagayan De Oro City on October 21, 2011.

Day Care Center of IDPs provided by GPH UNDP EU ERRCM

Ground Breaking Ceremony of Day Care Center in Bagolibas, Aleosan, Cotabato led by Ms. Carol Maninggo of EU Manila, Ms. Alma Evangelista of UNDP Manila, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), etc.

The Php 4 Million Early Recovery and Rehabilitation for Central Mindanao Project is funded by the European Union with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) management and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as Over-all Implementing Agency (OIA) started in February 2011 to assist the 2008 MILF-AFP conflict affected communities in Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte, and Cotabato provinces.

A ground breaking ceremony for the Day Care Center of IDP community of Bagolibas,Aleosan, Cotabato was launched during the visit of Ms. Carol Maninggo of EU Manila along with World Food Programme and other visitors on October 13, 2011. Conduct of the on-going play therapy session for the IDP children was also observed by the visitors during activity.

GPH UNDP EU ERRCM Ground Breaking Ceremony

Ceremonial ground breaking of level 1 Potable Water System at Brgy. Katilacan, Pikit, Cotabato. (from left to right) Ms. Carol Maninggo of EU, Ms. Alma Evangelista of UNDP, Mr. Mishael Argonza of World Food Programme and Cynthia C. Guerra of GPH UNDP EU ERRCM)

The Early Recovery and Rehabilitation for Central Mindanao (ERRCM) Project is Managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding support from European Union (EU) in the amount of 4 Million Euro wherein Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) serves as the Over-all Implementing Agency (OIA). It aimed to assist the 2008 IDPs in Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte, and Cotabato provinces

The groundbreaking ceremony of ERRCM projects in Cotabato province (Brgy. Health Stations, School Buildings, Level 1 and level 2 Potable Water Systems, etc.) along with EU, UNDP, and other partners was conducted in October 13, 2011.

PDC Products displayed during BIMP EAGA Trade fair at CDO

PDC Products displayed during BIMP-EAGA Trade Fair at CDO through the MinDA.

The products of the Peace and Development Communities such as Coconut Sugar, Bamboo furniture, coco vinegar, brass miniatures, etc. was displayed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) during the BIMP-EAGA Trade fair at Sm Mall Cagayan De Oro City on October 19-22, 2011.

Staff of the ERRCM-Non ARMM managed the product display in promotion of Peace and Development Community Products.

Php35M Fund Support for IDPs in Cotabato Province

MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati antonino and ERRC turned over Php35M check for IDPs in Cotabato Province.

In order to support conflict-affected communities transitioning from relief to recovery and development and help restore their socio-economic life in a sustainable capacity, in effect, contributing to the efforts of the national and local government to establish foundations for sustainable peace and development in Mindanao, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) has approved the implementation of the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation for Central Mindanao (ERRCM) in the amount of Euro4.0M. The successor phase will cover 30 conflict-affected communities in the Provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte. 

The ERRCM is being implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), officially designated as the Overall Implementing Agency (OIA) and the Lead Implementing Agency (LIA) for the non-ARMM areas, with the ARMM Regional Government (ARG) as the LIA for the ARMM areas.

The implementation of the Project shall be operationalized by the ARMM Desk (for Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur) and the Non-ARMM Desk (for North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte) with the Project Coordinating Office (PCO) as the overall coordinator. 

ERRCM through MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino turned over a Php35M check to the Cotabato Province In September 1, 2011 manifesting continued concerns to the IDPs.

ERRCM Project Orientation in IDP Communities

Misuari "JAKE" Abdullah briefing the MLGU staff of Madaya for the road map of ERR Needs Assessment.

ERRCM-Non ARMM conducted Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation Needs Assessment in the 12 IDP sites in the provinces of Cotabato and Lanao Del Norte. It was done as basis for identifying the priority needs of the IDPs and also for the ERRCM to strategically program the 4M euro from EU being managed by the UNDP in partnership with the Government of the Philippines through the Mindanao Development Authority as the over implementing agency.

The ERR Needs Assessment was conducted by the MLGU staff while the ERRCM staff just facilitated and observed the activity.

GPH UNDP EU ERRCM visited IDP Communities

Mindanao Development Authority, ERRCM, and EU Manila Carol Maningodiscussing IDP situation in Bagolibas, Aleosan, Cotabato

The Early Recovery and Rehabilitation for Central Mindanao Project visited the Internally Displaced Communities of Brgy. Bagolibas, Aleosan, Cotabato. ERRCM Project is a collaboration of Government of the Philippines-United Nations Development Programme with the funding support of the Europian Union which aimed to assist the IDPs communities recover and rehabilitated from the effect of the 2008 MILF-AFP armed conflict. Ms. Carol Maningo, Mindanao Development Authority, and ERRCM Team interacted with the IDPs.

High Court blocks Armm poll postponement law

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

MANILA (Updated 4:33 p.m.) -- The Supreme Court (SC) issued Tuesday a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the law postponing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm). The High Court also halted the appointment of officers-in-charge (OICs) for the Armm on the same day the Department of Interior and Local Government released its seven short-listed candidates for such position.

Voting 8-4, the SC en banc said the move stopping the appointment of OICs aims to avert a possible mooting of the consolidated petitions questioning the validity of Republic Act (RA) 10153 should the tribunal later on decide to declare the law invalid.

RA 10153 will synchronize the Armm elections with the May 2013 national and local elections. It was signed by President Benigno Aquino III last June, deferring the Armm election set in August 8 of this year.

Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the TRO issuance means that the incumbent officials of Armm will be able to continue in office in a holdover capacity if the SC has not yet rendered a decision on the merits of the consolidated cases before September 30, when the term of the incumbents will have expired, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

“After a series of deliberation, the majority decided to issue the TRO because the court may not be able to decide on the merits before September 30. If not decided on the merits before then, the law provides that an OIC may be appointed, and so to prevent any confusion which may later arise after the case is decided on the merits, the majority decided to issue a TRO at this time,” he said.

Marquez said there is a great possibility that the President will appoint OICs in Armm effective October 1.

He said if a TRO is not issued, and the Court decided later on to strike down that provision allowing the appointment of OIC, “then that might result in bigger confusion if we later on nullify the appointment of the OIC.”

“For the majority, it would be better that the TRO be issued now, at this time prior to the appointment of the OIC should the court not be able to decide these cases on the merits prior to September 30,” he explained.

Marquez clarified, however, that the executive is not being enjoined from proceeding with the screening process of applicants for the OIC posts, nor is the Commission on Elections (Comelec) being enjoined from making preparations for the Armm polls.

The SC has yet to rule on the merits of the petitions filed by opposition lawmakers led by House Minority Leader and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and Datu Michael Kida of the Maguindanao Federation of Autonomous Irrigators Association, and Basari Mapupuno questioning the legality of RA 10153.

Magistrates who voted in the majority were Chief Justice Renato Corona, Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Arturo Brion, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Roberto Abad, Jose Perez, Jose Catral-Mendoza, and Martin Villarama.

The four dissenting justices were Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta and Maria Lourdes Sereno. Justices Mariano del Castillo and Bienvenido Reyes were on leave.

Welcome move

Opponents of RA 10153 are questioning the constitutionality of the provision giving the President the power to appoint OICs for the positions of regional governor, vice governor, and members of the Legislative Assembly, for having no basis in the Constitution.

Former UP Law dean Pacifico Agabin, counsel for other petitioners Kida and Mapupuno, said RA 10153 removes from the Armm electorate their right to local autonomy. Lagman, for his part, said the Constitution did not grant powers to the President to appoint or designate Armm officials, and that allowing the President to substitute to the power of the electorate to choose their leaders is untenable. He said that Aquino, if allowed to appoint Armm officials on transitory provision, would make him “an ascendant superior who can invalidate their decisions.”

The lawmaker also said that in synchronizing the Armm elections to the national polls, the Palace defeated the purpose of its autonomy, while the postponement of the Armm polls violates provisions of the RA 9054 or the Armm Organic Acts, which require the conduct of a plebiscite before such a law could be passed.

With the TRO, Lagman said “what will prevail is the holdover doctrine in the event that the term of the incumbent expires.”

“They will stay until their successors are qualified,” he noted.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also welcomed the SC’s move, saying: "This validates my position that there must be elections for Armm officials and not the appointment of OICs."

The government is already screening candidates to sit as regional governor, vice governor, and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly. "The Comelec should now make the preparations for an election to be held as soon as possible," Marcos said. At a budget hearing at the Senate, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the money set aside for Armm elections is still intact and that they can hold elections in Armm within two months of a court decision on the law. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, for his part, said they have not yet seen the TRO issued by the SC.

Appeal

Malacanang, meanwhile, is appealing the SC ruling, which Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa considered as “unfortunate”. He said, though, that they are not losing hope. “We have options available to us, including a motion for reconsideration. We have to live with it,” de Mesa said. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace is disappointed with the decision.

President Aquino is supposed to announce the OICs for Armm before he leaves for the United States next week. The incumbent officials in Armm should have been allowed to serve post until September 30. But the High Court said if the petition is not resolved until September 30, the incumbent officials will stay in holdover capacity until their successors are elected