P62-M peace projects benefit conflict-affected, vulnerable towns in SOCCSKSARGEN

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): P62-M peace projects benefit conflict-affected, vulnerable towns in SOCCSKSARGEN

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-12) on Thursday announced that some P62 million worth of various community peace projects have been completed and now benefiting thousands of families in conflict-affected and vulnerable towns in Region-12.

Bai Zorahayda T. Taha, DSWD-12 regional director, said that the amount represents 138 community projects through the government’s flagship peace and development framework.

“These projects are part of the government’s firm intent for peace-building and development in conflict affected and vulnerable areas in Mindanao,” Taha said, citing the town of Pikit in North Cotabato which had been the scene of bloody armed conflict in the past.

Pikit, an affected armed conflict town, has completed P27.8 million projects, while Arakan and Libungan, considered as conflict-vulnerable towns got P20.7 million and P13.5 million, respectively, an agency data shows.

Taha added that the projects form part of the synergized efforts of the agency, local government units, village officials and volunteers with funding support from Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) through its Payapa at MasaganangPamayanan Project.

Taha said among the completed projects include peace centers, community livelihood initiatives, pre and post-harvest facilities, rural electrification, water systems, roads, flood controls, educational facilities, and many others.

Meanwhile, Emerita Q. Dizon, DSWD-12 regional project coordinator, said that the agency’s PAMANA projects go beyond the usual infrastructure projects since it employed a community-driven development (CDD) strategy to ensure participatory, collective and inclusive decision-making process.

“As complementary tract to national government’s peace initiative, the process itself fosters peaceful relations between and among communities and addresses the root of conflict,” Dizon said.

Currently, these three towns have been granted an additional P27 million worth of various community projects that are expected to be completed before the year ends.

SOCCSKSARGEN region, also known as Central Mindanao region, is composed of the provinces of North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=654870