Lumad exodus continues

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 4): Lumad exodus continues

Close to 1,000 persons flee homes, farmlands; hate-gov’t drive assailed

 

Marihatag, Surigao del Sur – Close to 1,000 individuals, mostly Lumads (natives), flee their homes and farmlands Thursday night over the reported presence of unidentified heavily armed men in the three highland village communities in the town.

The fresh group of refugees from the upland villages of Mahaba, Buringon, and Purompon are temporarily sheltered at the Marihatag Municipal Gymnasium. The 173 families or 954 individuals, some of them Lumad children, are being attended by the municipal government of Marihatag.

This new wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs) added to the more than 3,000 individuals currently sheltered at nearby Surigao del Sur Sports Complex in Tandag City, also in this province.

Provincial officials and members of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council, led by Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel, visited the new evacuees and extended food and other relief packs.

Security forces of the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office and Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade were already deployed to check on the sighting of armed group in the three highland villages of this town.

The Department of Health in Region 13, meanwhile, continues to attend to the health needs of 627 families or 3,312 individuals sheltered at Surigao del Sur Sports Complex in Tandag City, who evacuated from the highland villages in Diatagon, Lianga in Surigao del Sur, since September 1, 2015 due to armed conflict, DOH 13 Regional Director Dr. Jose Llacuna said.

Acute respiratory infection and influenza-like illnesses have already hit the evacuees.

Another challenge facing the refugees is environmental sanitation due to congestion in evacuation centers, limited water and latrine supply, and indiscriminate garbage disposal.

Currently, water rationing through water tanks and faucets, portalets for human wastes, de-clogging of toilets, IEC materials on sanitation, family planning services, health class and counseling are being provided to the evacuees.

In addition to these, empowering existing programs that concerns mothers and children is also extended to them. Immunization services, medical consultation, dispensing of medications, pre-natal and delivery services, are being provided, Director Llacuna said.

“We are trying our best to provide the best of what we can for people who need our services,” Llacuna added.

HATE-GOV’T CAMPAIGN

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been urged to immediately review the curriculum of schools run by the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev) following the circulation of a video documentary showing that Lumad children are being taught by the center’s volunteers to hate their own government.

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas said the DepEd should ensure that the Alcadev system strictly comply with the curriculum set by the department and should stop its volunteers from teaching Lumad children to hate  government soldiers.

“I was shocked to see children being taught to hate their own government, particularly the military. We educate our children to learn love and respect not only for their fellowmen but also for their country and their government. From what I saw on video, Alcadev is sowing the seed of hatred and distrust toward their own government in the minds of our young children,” he said in the statement.

“The mind of the young is like a sponge. They absorb everything that is taught to them and can barely differentiate what is right and wrong. Topics like the so-called militarization and indoctrinating them with radical views is not the stuff that we should be teaching our children,” he added.

Treñas expressed concern that Alcadev has changed the lyrics of the country’s national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, to profess their allegiance not to the Philippine flag but to the “hammer and sickle” flag of the communist insurgents.

“This is really sad because our Lumad children are being exploited to sow hate and promote anti-government beliefs. DepEd should never allow this because this is a poison that will blight the minds of our young Lumads. We should teach our children how to love and respect and inspire them to help in nation-building,” Trenas said.

“Instead of relying on organizations like Alcadev, DepEd and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should forge a stronger partnership to encourage more rural educators while ensuring peace, security and progress in Lumad communities,” he pointed out.

http://www.mb.com.ph/lumad-exodus-continues/