Wednesday, June 26, 2013

MILF: IMT-HRDC sponsors forum on effective collection of data in Lanao areas

From the MILF Website (Jun 26): IMT-HRDC sponsors forum on effective collection of data in Lanao areas

 

The unwavering support and feasible participation of the International Community in pursuit of doable Peace and sustainable development in Mindanao Region was once again manifested through  their  involvement in humanitarian services and holding of activities like forum, others.
     
Last June 18, 2013 a forum was sponsored and conducted by the International Monitoring Team (IMT) - Humanitarian Reconstruction and Development Component (HRDC). The Forum was held at the Elena Tower Hotel, Iligan City 8:00am to 12Noon.

Dr. Rena Korber, HRDC Coordinator of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) based in Cotabato city was the forum speaker and the program was facilitated by two academicians, Prof. Norma Gomez and Ester Sevilla, former university data collection experts at the prestigious Notre Dame University of Cotabato.
 
The objective of the half- day forum was to supplement collected data by the concerned IMT Staff based on the Term of Reference (TOR) in determining essential social services; and assess the existing infrastructure projects as well as the needs of the internal displaced persons (IDP’s) and the condition of the poverty – stricken areas in some municipalities seriously affected by the armed conflict in the Region. This issue forms part of the agenda during the focus group discussion (FGD) during the duration of the program attended by LGU personnel.
Dr, Rena Korber’s substantial presentation on social services and active participation of the attendees provided for a clear knowledge on existing problems they are confronting in their respective Areas.
The participants came from local government units in Lanao del Norte represented by their respective municipal engineers and from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from different municipalities of the province. 

This writer, a Steering Committee member of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) and Research Officer along with other representatives from the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were invited as guests and as well as participants too.

The forum had provided the participants with vivid pictures of the conflict affected areas (CAA) in the communities within the province. The intensity of the damages on infrastructure and the plight of the internally displaced persons (IDP’s) brought about by the armed conflict could have been avoided had the centuries-old aspiration of the Moro people had been answered by the people in power.

On June 19, the same powerhouse of the IMT – HRDC proceeded to Marawi city, and conducted similar forum. The program was held at the Mamitua  Saber Bldg. inside the MSU Campus - Marawi. Similar guests from BLMI, BDA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were also present and, in the course of the interactions have concluded that a lot of endeavors have to be undertaken to remedy the nagging problems confronted by the LGU’s

This time, the participants were from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lanao Del Sur. The attendees were mostly from the different Municipal Engineers Offices and personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Dr. Korbel presented the same topic for focus group discussion. Likewise, the participants presented their consolidated outputs by group. All issues were based on inputs provided for by the participants themselves in order to take a broader look of the problems and exploring solutions on it.  After lengthy presentations and discussions, Dr. Korbel meticulously examined the outputs of the participants and found out some missing important element. She identified it as “Software” Dr. Korber categorically signified that people empowerment and active participation in nation building are very important, and this was the “software” she was referring to.

The collected data and information would be of great help for both the LGU and the entities involved for their program and shall also serve as reference for the implementing agencies to assess and evaluate the outputs of their programs and services they are providing to their constituents.

Dr. Korber thanked the participants for their cooperation and response to the invitation. The participants also expressed their gratitude to Dr. Korber, the HRDC-IMT and to the organizers for their assistance and support extended to the LGU’s and the GPH – MILF Peace Process.
http://www.luwaran.com/

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