Projects set in Kato’s hometown

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 20): Projects set in Kato’s hometown

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), pipelined P25.2-million community peace projects in 42 villages of Pikit town in North Cotabato, officials announced yesterday.

Gemma Rivera, DSWD Region 12 director, said the projects are part of convergence initiatives proposed by villagers in conflict-affected areas of Pikit town and endorsed by North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.

She said the national government had approved in principle the P25.2-million fund for implementation anytime this month of community peace and learning centers, solar driers, potable water systems, pre and post-harvest facilities and road rehabilitation.

“These projects provide better access to basic social services, while at the same time supporting peace-building efforts and helping addressing conflict in the different villages of Pikit,” Rivera said in a statement.

The DSWD, through its poverty-reduction program Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), earlier forged a partnership with the OPAPP for the implementation of such projects in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas in Mindanao like Pikit town.

The project is part of OPAPP’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project, flagship peace and development framework of the Aquino administration.

Pikit is one of few towns in North Cotabato prone to disturbances mainly from elements of the brigand Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). It is a hometown to Ustaz Amelil Umbra Kato, founder of the BIFF. Kato is now bed-ridden and has been replaced as BIFF chief by one Ustaz Mohidin Animbang.

The latest of spate of attacks in Pikit by suspected BIFF rebels happened at Barangay Paido Pulangi where dozens of families fled homes, according to government authorities.

Gov. Taliño-Mendoza ordered the distribution of relief goods to displaced residents, even as she called on the BIFF to “live by true meaning of peace in the context of Islam” and spare the mixed Muslim and Christian folks of North Cotabato from the “vicious cycle” of displacement.

http://mb.com.ph/News/Provincial_News/28055/Projects_set_in_Kato’s_hometown#.UhNygpfD_Sc