Convergence of peace, rehab efforts needed in 'Yolanda'- affected communities – OPPAP official

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): Convergence of peace, rehab efforts needed in 'Yolanda'- affected communities – OPPAP official

The “whole of government initiative” will be delivered to communities affected by super typhoon Yolanda that are also classified by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as CPP-NPA “affected and/or threatened” in the Samar-Leyte areas, a top official of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process (OPAPP) said.

“The impasse in peace table prompted the cabinet cluster on Security, Justice and Peace to explore ways to ‘win the ground’ through a systematic and deliberate delivery of government programs and services in insurgency-affected communities that were also practically wiped-by the typhoon,” said OPAPP assistant secretary for policy Jennifer Oreta during Wednesday’s strategic planning here.

Yolanda has created massive humanitarian intervention demands, the scale of which goes beyond the capacities of the concerned local government units.

She added that the situation poses several openings for the CPP-NPA to intensify agitation in the areas, capitalizing on the perceived inefficiency of the government to address the humanitarian crisis, and use it as platform to recruit disgruntled individuals affected by typhoon.

“Given the devastation, existing legal and underground organizations in the Samar-Leyte areas were disrupted and consequently, the CPP-NPAs’ influence was also upset so they will attempt to regroup themselves,” the official added.

“It is therefore imperative to have peace-conflict sensitivity lens in doing rehabilitation and reconstruction works,” Oreta stressed.

The government had identified the target Yolanda- affected communities wherein peace initiatives will be done along with the rehabilitation works in the towns of Sta. Rita, Basey, Villareal and Marabut in Samar; Hernani, Llorente and Gen. Mac Arthur in Eastern Samar; Carigara, Jaro, Dagami, Burauen, Albuera to include Ormoc City in Leyte.

Among the immediate needs and intervention that the government will provide are food and water relief support; shelter and reconstruction; peace, order and security aspects; livelihood, employment and commerce; and in areas of health & education.

“The government support must be synchronized in these areas to produce the maximum impact,” she added.

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