P62-M gov’t peace projects benefit conflict-affected areas in Central Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27): P62-M gov’t peace projects benefit conflict-affected areas in Central Mindanao

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has facilitated the completion of some P62 million-worth of various community peace projects that are now benefiting families in conflict-affected towns of Pikit, Arakan, and Libungan in Central Mindanao.

According to DSWD, the peace projects were built with funding support from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Project of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP), which are part of the government’s firm intent for peacebuilding and development in conflict- affected areas in Mindanao.

PAMANA is the Philippine government’s program and framework for peace and development.

It focuses on providing development interventions in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, as well as in areas covered by existing peace agreements. DSWD is one of the implementing agencies.

In the town of Pikit, DSWD has completed P27.8 million-worth of projects. Arakan and Libungan, on the other hand, have P20.7 and P13.5 million-worth, respectively, of finished projects.

Among these are peace centers, community livelihood projects, pre and post-harvest facilities, electrifications, water systems, roads, canals, classrooms, and day care centers.

According to DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, PAMANA employs the community-driven development (CDD) strategy which ensures people’s participation in decision-making process.

"The CDD process fosters peaceful relations between and among communities and addresses the root of conflicts," Soliman said.

DSWD-Field Office XII director Bai Zorahayda T. Taha emphasized that the projects form part of the synergized efforts of DSWD, local government units, village officials and volunteers.

The three towns have been granted additional P27 million funding for the implementation of more community projects that are expected to be completed before the year ends.

Aside from Region XII, other PAMANA areas are Regions IV-A, V, VIII, IX, XI, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and CARAGA.

From 2012 to date, some 2,023 projects have been completed in these regions, the DSWD said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=657568