Partnership builds community, peace for ex-rebels

MAASIM, Sarangani (March 6, 2007) – Former combatants, with assistance from European Union (EU) and local government units, have started to build homes a few steps away from a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) camp.

"Hindi lamang bahay ito," Governor Migs Dominguez said.

"Hindi lang bahay kundi komunidad ang ating gagawin dito."

Dominguez addressed officials and the community during the Peace Build Project launching and ground breaking ceremony Monday for 50 housing units in barangay Lumatil.

The project under the United Nations' Multi-Donor Programme (UN-MDP) will benefit former combatants and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

"Kailangan tumulong din kayo sa proyekto and this is what I call responsibility and accountability," the governor told beneficiaries.

As stakeholders and owners, the community will build the houses through bayanihan and start their own livelihood projects.

Through institutionalized partnerships and alliances, "beyond shelter, the project will strengthen existing structures and processes for peace and development, as well as provide education, skills and livelihood support, and improve access to water, environmental health and sanitation facilities and services," an EU briefer noted.

EU has partnered Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) "to ensure community stability and the attainment of their full human potentials in a climate of peace through this project."

"Ito ay isang pagpapatunay na ang ating peace and development community is gaining recognition particularly sa usapin ng peace and development. Importante dito 'yung ownership ng community and ito ay ma-sustain at maalagaan," said Cynthia Guera, Act for Peace area manager for South Central Mindanao.

The "bringing peace while building homes" project aims to empower IDP communities, former combatants and their families in the South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City (SOCSKSARGEN) corridor in Southern Philippines that they will be reintegrated in the normal social fabric of life and be economically and socially active.

Maasim has succeeded in implementing its "arms to farms" program by developing a former battleground, Barangay Amsipit, into an agricultural land with the Dole Pineapple growership program. This has turned former communist rebels into farmer organizers who watch over the plantation.

"Here, everybody is participatory and you can see the right formula," said C/Supt. Felizardo Serapio Jr., police regional director.

Serapio said he was previously assigned in Jolo where he helped build a no man's land community into a local government unit.

"We were not experts. Ngayon, I'm very inspired, especially the community is participating," the police officer said.

Peace and development advocate Juvie Apit donated the one-hectare lot where the initial P300,000 worth of housing materials will be built.

Johnny Akbar, president of Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan (MINSUPALA) Peace and Order Advocate, urged the community to fill in the partnerships that bind them with funding donors and the government. "Sabay-sabay tayong magpasalamat sa ating pagtutulungan. Lahat tayo nagtutulungan para sa ating kaunlaran hindi lamang dito sa munisipyo ng Maasim kundi sa buong Sarangani Province ," Akbar said. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)