Peace committee to bring dev't projects to Tabuanlasa Islands

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 30): Peace committee to bring dev't projects to Tabuanlasa Islands

The Provincial Peace and Development Coordinating Committee will visit Tabuanlasa municipality on Jan. 30 - 31 to bring development projects and government services to this hard-to-reach islands south of Basilan.

Dubbed “Bayanihan sa Tabuanlasa Tungo sa Kapayapaan,” the residents of Sulloh and Lanawan islands will benefit from the services and programs that participating agencies and organizations will be bringing.

The project was conceived to rehabilitate the municipality, particularly in rebuilding some shelters destroyed in past conflicts that displaced a number of families, said Tahira Ismael, provincial administrator.

The 104th Philippine Army Brigade in Basilan will lead in the rebuilding of 37 permanent shelters, particularly in the village of Sulloh, Tapiantana. This housing project is supported by the provincial government of Basilan and the regional government of ARMM.

More than a hundred visitors are expected to arrive in Tabuanlasa, to include several participating government agencies, non-government organizations, the military and police, and media.

The Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. and the Basilan Advocates for Peace, Environment, and Sustainable Development Association Inc. (Bapesda) are expected to conduct psycho-social intervention to the children; they will also be distributing school supplies.

The Provincial Health Office and the Tabuanlasa municipal health office will lead in the conduct of medical and dental program in tandem with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The provincial Social Welfare and Development personnel and the AFP will conduct feeding sessions with the kids, too. Local teachers will also have a dialogue session with the Department of Education-ARMM.

The Basilan Jaycees Inc. is also expected to turn-over to the local schools around 20 boxes of books. The Asia Foundation, through Bapesda, had promised to donate books to the elementary schools.

At the preparatory meeting in Isabela City, Tabuanlasa Mayor Muktar Y. Junaid was elated, expressing his gratitude to the Provincial Peace and Development Coordinating Committee also known as Team Basilan for the initiatives.

Tabuan-Lasa is one of the 11 municipalities and a city that comprise the province of Basilan in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The town is politically subdivided into 12 barangays, and is part of the lone congressional district of Basilan with a population of 13,384 people.

The 12 barangays that make up Tabuan-Lasa, which were formerly part of the municipality of Sumisip, are situated in the islands and detached from mainland Basilan.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1421359451553