February 25, 2010 - Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maguindanao and Central Mindnao indentified
security and life support package as their major concerns during a forum initiated by Oxfam, a Great Britain-based international NGO with their local partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Kadtuntanya Foundation Inc. (KFI), Mindanao Tulong Bakwet (MTB) and A Single Drop of SafeWater(ASDSW) held in Cotabato City yesterday.

The forum was organized for the IDPs to push for their concerns, demands and recommendations to government and non-government entities while still taking shelter at evacuation centers and makeshifts.

IDPs cited uncertainty on security at their places of origin considering that there is no agreement yet
between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Apart from this, they expressed hesitation to go home due to ‘rido’ or clan wars which were goaded after the Ampatuan massacre on November 23, 2009 being aggravated by the series of joint AFP-PNP raids and operations against the alleged perpetrators of the massacre that brought fear to the IDPs.

IDPs voiced apprehension and fear on the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and UXO explosions in Maguindanao. The latest incident UXO explosion was last February 17 that resulted to the deaths of three civilians in barangay Tawan-Tawan, Kabingi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguidanao. On December 05, 2009, one 7-year old girl was wounded when the UXO she found at the river vicinity of Reina Regente in Datu Piang exploded.

Major Carlos Sol, Jr. of the government ceasefire committee, who was a resource person, assured IDPs that the government is committed to the ceasefire and ongoing peace negotiation between the GRP and the MILF. On the issue of UXO he cited a pending Joint Mines Clearance Action with the Foundation Suisse De Dominage (FSD) and Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmies (PCBL). On this note,Sol also stressed that the joint mines clearance campaign is part of the larger peace process between the government and MILF.

Major Sol pointed out AFP’s actions on the UXOs, even as he said IDPs will not be allowed to return home if there are still UXOs in the conflict affected areas especially in farmlands. For some IDPs in the forum, they have mentioned about the absence of consultation on programs for their rehabilitation. They said they were not consulted on the issue of return yet rather their access cards were stamped ‘returned’. This had pushed them to go back to their places of origins for economic reason as they did not received food rations since then.

The issue was acknowledged by the humanitarian NGOs and told IDPs that they were discussing it in the protection working group (PWG), an inter-NGO cluster on humanitarian protection. However, there was no response from the local government units or provincial social welfare office on this concern.

Moreover, IDPs asked livelihood assistance from concerned institutions intended as they go back to their places of origin or if they decide to stay at the relocation centers while waiting for the agreement between the GRP and MILF.

Start-up capital, farm and fishing equipments were identified by the IDPs to help them build their lives. Further, IDPs reminded the government social welfare department and local governments to provide return package or ‘pabaon’ for those who have gone home and are planning to return home.

Indemnification or reconstruction of houses that have been burnt and damaged during the height of armed conflict in 2008 was also stated by the IDPs in the forum. Accordingly, more than 2000 houses owned by civilians were burned down by government forces.

The humanitarian NGOs expressed their determination to continue their assistance and find ways to help facilitate the needs and demands of the IDPs mentioned under the two major concerns especially on the life support.

The said forum was participated by IDP leaders in IDP camps, house-based, and IDPs sheltering at the relocations sites in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Talayan, Datu Piang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Ampatuan, Guindolongan and Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Local government officials to include Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers and international organizations such as World Food Programme, IOM, ACF, CFSI, and Nonviolent Peaceforce were also present in the forum.