PROMOTING THE TRANSITION FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL

Transcription

1 PROMOTING THE TRANSITION FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL PILOT PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINES Progress Report Number Six 01 November 2002 through 28 February 2003 Community and Family Services International Torres Building 2442 Park Avenue Pasay City, Metro Manila Philippines

2 Front Cover Artwork: Peace Posters made by internally displaced children during one of the Peace Festivals organized by CFSI in cooperation with other local NGOs.

3 PROMOTING THE TRANSITION FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL PILOT PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINES Progress Report Number Six 01 November 2002 through 28 February 2003 INTRODUCTION Community and Family Services International (CFSI) a Philippines-based social development organization received funds from the Post Conflict Unit of the World Bank for a pilot project amongst internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Central Mindanao entitled Promoting the Transition from Conflict to Peace and Development at the Community Level. This project, which began in January 2001 and will be completed in July 2003, has two general objectives: 1. Make a difference in the lives of Filipinos displaced by armed conflict by working with the affected communities to develop enabling conditions that encourage safe return or settlement, facilitate the process of transition and stabilization, and provide a foundation for peace building and sustainable development. 2. Contribute to the existing knowledge base by developing and testing models that will inform approaches to the transition from conflict to peace. Project coverage includes 6,759 families (33,550 persons) in the municipalities of Pagalungan and Pagagawan in the province of Maguindanao and the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, and Pikit in the province of North Cotabato. Maguindanao is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). At the time of community profiling in October 2001, 3,140 of these families (15,708 persons) were internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in thirty (30) evacuation centers. The remaining 3,619 families (17,842 persons) also displaced by war in 2000 had earlier returned to their communities of origin or settled in new locations before October World Bank support is in the form of two grants. The first, covering the period 01 January 2001 through 30 June 2002, allowed CFSI to serve the IDPs in the thirty (30) evacuation centers as well as those who returned to their communities of origin in fourteen (14) barangays the smallest territorial and political unit of government within the five municipalities. The second grant, running from 01 July 2002 through 31 July 2003, made it possible for CFSI to continue to assist those covered by the first grant as well as expand services to fourteen (14) additional, underserved barangays in the interior and less accessible areas of Central Mindanao. This report summarizes project progress from 01 November 2002 through 28 February Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1

4 WORKING ENVIRONMENT The four-month reporting period was characterized by fast changing events, highlighted by the military offensive of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in February 2003 against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This period saw the rapid deterioration of the security environment from a period of relative peace and development to a full-blown conflict-induced humanitarian emergency. The developments in February 2003 had a critical impact on the Pilot Project as the renewed conflict resulted in another round of major displacement, particularly for the predominantly Muslim communities in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. This displacement wiped out many recent gains. The gradual progress made in bringing back normalcy, stability and development ground to a halt as a result of the raging conflict. The efforts to prepare the IDP communities for World Bank-assisted projects under the ARMM Social Fund (ASF), Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan (KALAHI), and the Mindanao Rural Development Programme (MRDP) were greatly affected. IDPs once again found themselves under conditions of displacement and deprivation in the evacuation centers. The rapid deterioration in the peace and order situation aggravated the staff security situation. Other security incidents, by way of example, follow: In November 2002, a round of AFP offensives against lawless elements sent many former IDPs from Barangays Rajamuda, Talitay, and Inug-ug in Pikit, North Cotabato scurrying back to evacuation centers. In November, a son of the Maguindanao Governor was shot dead. In December, a bomb explosion in Datu Piang killed seven people including another son of the Governor. Tension gripped the province as retaliatory attacks were expected. Bomb and grenade explosions were also experienced in Pikit, North Cotabato that killed and/or injured several people. In December, family feuds in Barangay Limbalud, Carmen, North Cotabato stirred tensions in neighboring communities where twenty (20) families from Barangay Bulit decided to leave their homes temporarily. ACHIEVEMENTS The reporting period can be divided into two parts: (a) prior to the military offensive (November 2002 to January 2003); and (b) the height of the AFP s campaign (February 2003). Part I - 01 November 2002 to 31 January 2003 (before the AFP military offensives) This period was crucial for the IDPs as they sought to re-establish themselves and rebuild their lives after a long period of displacement brought about by the armed conflict between the AFP and MILF in In the midst of the growing uncertainty and instability, CFSI continued to strengthen its programme interventions in the areas of psychosocial services, peace building and Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 2

5 education, research, livelihood, advocacy and networking. CFSI accelerated capacity building and linking activities through the completion of the Minimum Basic Needs (MBN) Survey and the formulation of the Community Development Plans (CDP). The CDPs were then forwarded to the Barangay Councils for adoption into their Barangay Development Plans. Community Organizing November 2002 was generally considered a month of relative peace and quiet as communities entered the observance of the period of Ramadan with the last week as the peace week of Mindanao. CFSI personnel were able to stay overnight at the sites occasionally, although their presence was regularly monitored by both the MILF and AFP. The major activity during the period was the implementation of the MBN Survey in the additional fourteen less accessible IDP Sites of Origin. The presentation of the MBN results and the making of Site Development Plans (SDP) became the focus in the first fourteen Sites of Origin. Twenty six (26) additional sumpats from eleven (11) sitios of four (4) barangays were trained to assist in the MBN surveys. The MBN process as well as the formulation of development plans progressed in different barangays based on each community s pace and literacy level. In Barangay Bagoenged, Community Development Plans were already formulated while in neighbouring Barangays Buliok and Barungis, the process had only reached the point of presentation and validation of results. In Barangays Makabual and Kabasalan, the communities had just completed the MBN survey. The survey indicates that people express the following as their topmost unmet needs: sanitary toilets, access to potable water, subsistence level income, housing, and access to education. In the Carmen and Kabacan municipalities, the MBN process was completed in the barangays of Bentangan, Tupig and Palanggalan. Being adjacent barangays and located in the remotest areas, the predominantly Manobo communities expressed similar unmet needs. It is noteworthy, though, how the local government unit (LGU) showed a lot of support with the kagawads (village councilmen), serving as interviewers in the survey. In Pagalungan, the MBN survey for less accessible areas was carried out only in Barangay Kalbugan. Three (3) sitios in Barangay Buliok were not surveyed since majority of the residents no longer stay in the community. In addition, CFSI activities in these areas focused on sectoral mobilization and implementation of community-based activities. Livelihood Assistance Upon Return (LAUR) and the Youth Forum were also implemented. Capability building efforts involved ninety-five (95) barangay officials, Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 3

6 officers of community-based organizations (CBOs), and livelihood team leaders coming from five (5) barangays in Carmen and Kabacan. The communities were mentored on all the requirements and the process they had to undergo in the formation of their communitybased organizations (CBOs). Topics covered included community organizing and the poverty scenario, simple bookkeeping, constitution and by-laws of an organization, and registration process and requirements for CBOs from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Community participation was very evident during the formation of community organizations in all the municipalities. However, the CBOs have to be formally registered to gain legal recognition. As the new year of 2003 began, community organizing efforts continued to concentrate on the completion of the MBN process, incorporating the sectoral needs of the elderly, the women, and the youth as well as the formulation of the barangay and community development plans. Youth Forum Kabataan, Makialam Ka, Sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran Kabahagi Ka (O Youth, Be Involved, You Have a Stake in the Attainment of Peace and Development) this was the theme of the IDP Youth Forum for Peace and Development in Conflict-Affected Areas participated in by IDP youth representatives from communities of origin in the (5) conflict-affected municipalities served by CFSI. This Forum a major CFSI initiative during the last quarter period in 2002 served as an avenue for the youth to articulate their thoughts and aspirations on peace. It was envisaged to eventually develop into a Youth Congress where the youth agenda for peace will be formally identified and lobbied in government agencies. The youth agenda is seen to include the provision of scholarship grants as well as employment opportunities. Formal youth organizations that will operationalise the outputs of the Congress are also envisioned. The Forum was held at the University of Southern Mindanao from December 19 20, 2002 attended by 104 youth representatives from the 26 barangays to which IDPs had returned. The youth representatives, consisting of both teenaged boys and girls, came from Muslim, Christian, and Indigenous Peoples communities. Representing one of the sectors most affected by the conflict, the youth sector constitutes a large percentage of the IDP community. Several participants hold key positions in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council. The Youth Forum provided the young people coming from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and faiths the opportunity to share experiences, perspectives, and aspirations in relation to conflict, peace, and development. Specifically, the Forum: (a) facilitated the expression of views on displacement, peace, and development; (b) exposed youth to other Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 4

7 displaced youth coming from other communities with different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, thus allowing them to discuss and bridge existing differences; and (c) served as a venue to determine a common agenda for the attainment of peace and development to be used by the youth in lobbying with government, and other non-government institutions. The two-day forum ended with the election of youth leaders who will represent the various communities and agreed to meet by January 15, 2003 to review and carry out the action plans made during the forum. ARMM Social Fund (ASF) CFSI actively assisted the IDP communities of Barangays Inug-ug in Pagalungan and Dungguan in Pagagawan during the ARMM Social Fund (ASF) consultations. These communities were chosen as the pilot sites of the ASF. The communities were oriented on their role in the Stakeholders Consultation Meeting and how their community-based organizations (CBOs) will have direct responsibility for the projects to be funded by ASF, with the LGUs and NGOs serving as guides, supporters, and monitors of the projects. In the early planning stages of the ASF, CFSI strongly advocated for the inclusion of conflictaffected areas, to which IDPs had returned, as pilot sites for the World Bank funded initiative. Both Inug-ug and Dungguan established CBOs in their sitios and formulated a Community Development Plan as a result of their MBN process. The attendance and active participation by the people and their local officials from the communities in these meetings was consistent. The people were observed to be highly participative actively joining the open forum, raising questions, offering comments, and articulating the aspirations of their communities for the future. A Memorandum of Understanding between the community-based organizations of Inug-ug and Dungguan and the ASF was formally signed in December The IDPs expressed a common sentiment: Ito na ang bunga ng aming pagmimitingmiting This is finally the result of our frequent meetings Consequently, officials of other sitios and barangays which were not yet covered by the initial ASF program or which had not yet returned to their communities of origin for security reasons, sought the assistance of CFSI to prepare their respective communities to participate in the process. During a meeting with the mayors of Pagagawan and Pagalungan, CFSI was requested to help identify four more barangays for each of the municipalities that could, ideally, be prepared to participate in the ASF. Similar efforts were being undertaken by CFSI in North Cotabato. In Carmen and Kabacan, former IDPs residing in any of the sitios located in Barangays General Luna, Malapag, Liliongan and Nangaan had set up, by December, community-based organizations that were all undergoing the process leading to legal registration. Leadership and management training for the officers and members of these community-based organizations were being conducted to assist them in formulating their Constitution and By-Laws. Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 5

8 Peace Education and Reconciliation In CFSI-assisted communities, there were indications that people were slowly moving past their adverse experiences brought about by the war of IDPs seem to have learned to trust each other as evidenced by their bonding together to move forward to achieve developments in their areas. Community and leadership structures were formed. People in the community showed their capability to work with one another to come up with proposals and decisions to improve their living conditions. The communities showed a willingness to cooperate in the implementation of programs and a desire to promote peace and development. Tensions in the IDP communities of return continued to be experienced, however, from time to time. During the processing of livelihood assistance projects in Sitio Sapakan, Barangay Buliok in Pagalungan, one of the group leaders who claimed to be an MILF official wanted CFSI to course the project funding of his group and others in his area exclusively through him. When the community organizer spent time to carefully explain to this group leader the actual process of livelihood assistance, this was misinterpreted by the Barangay Chairman, the elected village leader. He mistakenly thought that the community organizer was recognizing other leadership structures in the area, thereby by-passing his authority. However, the required certification that the livelihood beneficiaries were in fact bona fide residents of the area can only be officially attested to by the Barangay Chairman. Eventually, the matter was clarified and the legal role of the Barangay Chairman duly recognized. The situation was peacefully resolved with a kanduli celebration after the approved projects had been implemented. During dialogues and forums, IDP participants from Carmen and Kabacan spoke about the peace issues in their communities. They pointed to the fact that during the year 2000 all-out war, the harmonious relationship between the tri-people (Muslims, Christians, and Indigenous People) was destroyed and in its place came mistrust. The Muslim members spoke of developing and implementing a family and community-based approach to rebuilding this trust, using the occasion of the breaking of the fast during Ramadan when families get together to share a meal. Likewise, since many of the identified peacemakers were barangay officials themselves, the LGU sessions were also identified as one of the venues for promoting peace. CFSI participated actively in the Cultural Dialogue for Peace Stakeholders in Central Mindanao sponsored by United Nations Multi-Donor Programme (UNMDP). The team was likewise actively involved in the workshop conducted for the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and in the conferences organized by the Mindanao Commission on Women on Women Working in Peace and Lumad Women Assembly. A photo exhibit and Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 6

9 presentation on CFSI and its peace-related activities were made part of the round table discussions during the conference organized by Kusog Mindanao. Through these peace and women assemblies, CFSI advocated for a meaningful role of women in the peace process and emphasized the importance of their participation in the on-going peace talks. The women representatives selected to represent their IDP communities from the municipalities served by CFSI articulated these aspirations during their turn to speak before the body. Indigenous women from Liliongan, Carmen attended the Mindanao-wide Lumad Women Assembly in Davao City and brought up issues affecting the indigenous peoples population in Carmen. The Assembly came up with a position paper which will be submitted to the GRP- MILF Peace Panel. During the Mindanao Week of Peace which was celebrated at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, IDPs from the Women and Youth sectors also spoke in behalf of their displaced communities in Central Mindanao. They spoke about their life at the height of the conflict, at the evacuation centers, and back at their communities of origin ending with an appeal to give them the chance to once again live in peace. Information CFSI s twice-monthly radio program, called Ang Tinig ng IDPs sa Muling Pagsisimula (The Voices of the IDPs on Starting Anew), focused on the Mindanao Week of Peace as well as other peace initiatives conducted in conflict-affected areas by various organizations and communities. Peace messages sent by the various communities were read during the program. The communitybased information specialists took seriously their responsibilities for consolidating and recording the IDPs understanding and aspiration for peace. Various peace messages were expressed by the IDPs. Samples follow: Ang epekto ng kapayapaan sa akin ay nabubuhay ako ng tahimik, nakakatulog ng mahimbing at nawala ang takot ko sa dibdib. Naalagaan ko ng mabuti ang aking mga anak at ang aking pamilya nakapagaaral ng maayos and mga bata kahit na ako ay isang magsasaka lamang. Ngayon ko nararamdaman ang sarap ng buhay dahil may kapayapaan. For me, the effect of peace is that I am able to sleep soundly without fear in my heart. I am able to take good care of my children and family my children can have proper access to education even though I m only a farmer. ---a farmer from Barangay Nagaan, Kabacan Ang pagsabot nako sa kalinaw adunay panaghiusaug pagsinabtanay sa usag-usa, paghigugmaay ug tambayayong sa mga ginbuhatan sa atong gagmay nga katilingban ug walay kasamok, diha na nato makabot ang hingpit nga kalinaw. My understanding of peace is that there s unity and respect for each one, loving one another and cooperation in any community endeavour that we do for our small community and when there s no conflict, it is only then that lasting peace is attained. Kung may pagkain sapat, may kapayapaan. ---IDP from Barangay Ginatilan, Pikit Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 7

10 When food is sufficient, there is peace. ---IDP from Barangay Makabual, Pikit Amay ka daden pagumbal sa mga misils, bala, sinapang endu mga ped pan-a mga instrumento nu kambunu-a, basi maaden den su kalilintad. If there would not be manufacturers of missiles, bullets, guns and other instruments of war, maybe then peace is possible. Su Kalilintad na di kena kapangaden sa mga sundalo sia sa kano dal pa. Peace is the absence of the military in our lands. ---IDP from Barangay Makabual, Pikit ---IDP from Barangay Talitay, Pikit In January 2003, CFSI s radio program started to air weekly in a new Friday prime-time slot, 8:00-8:30 am, immediately following the morning news. The first Friday program replayed the Peace Week presentation containing the peace wishes of IDPs and the voices of communitybased information specialists. The second airing featured development activities, highlighting the ASF Project. Also in January, four (4) Information Caravans travelled to six (6) barangays. Over a hundred residents of Liliongan, Carmen together with a large number of children from five (5) sitios participated in one Caravan. Information Caravans are one-day events wherein CFSI arranges for members of an IDP community to meet with various resource persons from government who can provide information, technical advice, and services in response to the needs in the communities of return. It is an opportunity for government to interact with citizens on a community level. In attendance from government during the information caravan were officials and staff from the Rural Health Unit, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and barangay leaders. Among the topics tackled were herbal medicine, the anti-drug abuse campaign, livestock raising and other agriculture-related topics. Ngayon lang po kami nagkaroon ng konkretong proyekto mula sa line agencies ng gobyerno at masaya po kami dahil dumating ang CFSI sa buhay namin It is only now that we experienced a concrete project from government line agencies and we are happy because CFSI came into our lives ---a sumpat of Sitio Matingao, Malapag Carmen Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 8

11 Tinuud nga ang CFSI dili niya mahat ag tanan sa atu-a and atung mga gikinahanglan, apan siya nahimung SUSI ug GIYA arum makaiistorya natu run ang mga ahensiya sa gobyerno ug makabenipisyo ta sa ilahang mga program ug serbisyo. It is true that CFSI could not give all we need, however, they serve as our KEY and GUIDE so that we may be able to talk face-to-face with the various line agencies of the government and benefit from their programs ---a volunteer from Sitio Matingao, Malapag Carmen Psychosocial Services A key activity of CFSI s psychosocial services programme during the reporting period was the creation of play centers for children. These were named Harmony Play Centers. These Centers were conceived as a means of bringing normalcy to a community by getting the children to engage in play and other daily activities characteristic of their age and needs, and also to get families together to engage in common activities essential to peaceful day-to-day living. The Harmony Play Centers also served as an entry point in less accessible and more critical communities/barangays. Like the Pulungan Centers (described in earlier CFSI reports), the Harmony Play Centers helped empower the communities by allowing the people to be consulted and to participate in the decision making process concerning their needs and project implementation. Women were selected by the community and oriented by CFSI to manage the center from construction to implementation. While the Harmony Play Centers were being constructed, community-based Caregivers were identified, selected, and trained. Training Needs Assessments (TNA) were conducted amongst the potential caregivers to determine their emotional responsiveness to, and their familiarity with, the needs of conflict-affected children. Caregivers underwent training conducted by CFSI in coordination with the local units of DSWD in Region 12 and ARMM. Twenty-two (22) additional caregivers from Carmen were identified in January 2003 and trained to provide psychosocial care as well as manage the play centers in their respective barangays. The play centers responded to the children s need to establish pleasant routines denied them due to the armed conflict and displacement and to develop psychomotor skills needed for normal growth and adaptation. The Harmony Play Centers not only provided a venue for children s selfexpression but also paved the way for promoting social cohesion. In the end, the play centers became a hub for community interaction: communities getting together, supporting each other, and joining in the efforts to rebuild their lives. In Pikit, construction of the harmony play centers in Barangays Gli-gli, Talitay and Rajamuda was on-going in November and expected to benefit the children of 309 families. The communities of Barangays Buliok, Makabual, Barungis and Kabasalan also submitted proposals for the construction of play centers. Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 9

12 The observance of Ramadan slowed down the construction of the Harmony Play Centers and modified the timelines for the implementation of activities. By the end of the year, the harmony play center in Buliok was completed and the caregiver from the community identified. In Pagagawan, three (3) of five (5) planned centers were constructed and are now in the process of being equipped with toys and learning materials. The first harmony play center was formally inaugurated on December 2002 in Sitio Tabulon, Barangay General Luna in Carmen with 37 children regularly attending the sessions. Complementing the toys and learning materials that were purchased locally, were toys donated by long-time CFSI partner-- La Trobe University of Melbourne, Australia. During its entry into the sitios and barangays located in less accessible but more critical areas, CFSI was asked by the communities and their leaders to explain its programme. These were places where IDPs had completed Go and See Visit activities, but to which they had not yet been able to return, or where even after their return, they had not participated in the MBN survey. A certain amount of resistance was experienced with regards to CFSI s peace education efforts. There were leaders in the communities who considered the peace education approach as detrimental to the armed struggle of the Bangsamoro people. However, the psychosocial intervention approach that aimed to help children and women deal with the effects of war through the Harmony Play Centers received a very positive response. For CFSI, the establishment of these Harmony Play Centers provided better access to the women, children and youth in these communities. Out of School Children and Youth In order to address the situation of out of school children and youth among IDP communities and to enhance the Pilot Project, CFSI undertook an education focused development initiative entitled Arms Are for Hugging: Promoting Education for Peace and Development in Conflict- Affected Mindanao. This started in 01 July 2002 with an orientation of the community and identification of the potential beneficiaries from Barangay Inug-ug in the municipality of Pagalungan, Maguindanao Province, ARMM. The project was strengthened through the formation of functional committees made up of residents of the community. Committees formed were School Structure, Operation and Maintenance, Peacemakers, Health and Nutrition, and Sanitation. The establishment of the Inug-ug Elementary School served to re-establish routines amongst waraffected children and youth and provide a springboard for psychosocial recovery through education. It also contributed to the development of social cohesion and social capital in the community as the residents pulled together their own resources to contribute to the construction of the school. For example, three local residents contributed the 1.5 hectares of land required by the Department of Education for a primary school while others contributed in terms of lumber Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 10

13 and labor. The members of the community exhibited extraordinary capacity to get together and put up what could have been impossible without genuine participation and contributions from the residents. The excitement and eagerness could be gleamed from children and parents alike as they attended the first day of school and saw that what they had earlier discussed in several community meetings and consultations had now become a reality. Most of the 356 students were attending school for the first time, while others were returning after being out of school for a number of years. During the registration and after school opening, the problems encountered were double listing, students failing to show up for classes after registration, students attending classes for only a few sessions then dropping out for varied reasons. Some of the reasons were: being too young to go unaccompanied to school; being utilized for farm chores; not having clothes to wear; being sickly; or transfer of residence. Finalizing the list of student enrolees proved challenging as errors in spelling, the use of pseudo names, or having multiple names made the baseline data difficult to establish and reconcile. In order to keep children in school and address some of the problems, community volunteers or partners, more commonly referred to as sumpats, were selected and trained to undertake home visits to follow up on students with irregular attendance. Home visits were also made to ascertain real names and dates of birth of the students, and their family profile. Tutors were also mobilised to provide one-on-one sessions with the students who needed mentoring and to conduct discussions with parents whose children had observed problems. After the Inug-ug Elementary School opened in October 2002, project activities in the following months became even more challenging for the project team. The coming of the rains caused flooding on the school grounds, restricting the movements of the students and confining them to the classrooms. In addition, security concerns also affected the implementation of school and project activities. Notwithstanding these challenges, a sub-office in the municipal building of Pagalungan was established with the endorsement and blessings of the municipal council in order to quickly attend to school needs and activities. These facilities are being provided to CFSI at no expense as the municipality s contribution to this education initiative. The teaching force was also augmented with the inclusion of three Udztads or Alims (Islamic religious teachers) to handle classes in Arabic and Islamic values. To assist the out of school children and youth living in sitios far away from the school, arrangements were made to provide local transportation facilities, such as the tricycle and the multi-cab mini-van to ferry these students. Parents were also given funds to construct a small boat that could ferry other students to the school from Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 11

14 their homes on the Liguasan Marsh especially when flooding occurs. Most of the students, however, are able to walk to school. School supplies, like school bags, paper, pencils, notebooks and crayons were also provided the students while teaching aids, school forms, and textbooks were given to the teaching staff. School tables for the students and the teachers were gradually built by the community with support from CFSI. Materials and labor requirements for the construction of an additional school structure were also secured from various sources in the community and from the government. The structure will be used as a dining hall, venue for group meetings, classroom as well as waiting area for parents and relatives of the students. Much effort was made to make the school project a truly participative community endeavour. Forty (40) parents and guardians of students, both men and women, from the five (5) sitios of Barangay Inug-ug underwent training on sewing. CFSI mobilized Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in ARMM to provide this training. Acquisition of practical skills in sewing helped provide income generating opportunities for the participants. During the graduation ceremonies, one of the trainees said in her testimonial: I was not only given the chance to learn new skills. More than that, I felt that my dignity as a human being was recognized and given importance. After completion of their training in December, the parents were tasked with the sewing of the students uniforms for the school. Five (5) sewing machines were provided by CFSI while Consuelo Foundation funded materials for student uniforms. The parents were paid a sewing fee for every uniform they finished. With the assistance of TESDA, the parents will also be provided with skills training in carpentry in March 2003, so they can assist in constructing additional temporary classrooms as well as making furniture for the increasing number of students. Design and structural plans for a more permanent school structure were drawn up for free by a volunteer engineer mobilized by CFSI. Oxford Committee for Famine Relief - Great Britain (OXFAM GB), provided the school with three (3) toilets and a deep well to provide clean water for the sanitation and hygiene needs of the students and the community. Parents were mobilized by CFSI to form a Health and Nutrition Committee that will prepare daily a nutritious halal lunch for the students. The members were trained by a nutrition specialist from the Department of Health. Progress in the improved nutritional status of the students is expected. Resource development efforts were intensified to respond to the different activities and various needs of the project. As a result of the initiatives at CFSI Headquarters, the funding requirements for teacher salaries for one (1) school year were addressed by the support given to CFSI by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Discussions were initiated with the Maguindanao Business Chamber of Commerce for skills training for the IDPs out of school youth and their parents. Enrolment of out-of-school children and youth continued into year The school is aiming to cover 500 children before the end of the school year with the inclusion of out of school children and youth from the adjacent barangays of Kudal and Bagoenged whose residents remain displaced and in evacuation centers. Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 12

15 Literacy and Numeracy Program Many of the adult members in the IDP communities, including the elderly, expressed their need and desire to participate in capability building programs. However, these activities required them to write their names or read simple documents. As they participated in trainings to become recipients of livelihood assistance, their need for functional literacy became more pronounced. They wanted to be able to count, to write their names and those of their children and family members, and to recognize familiar words or phrases that they often encounter through their participation in CFSI s programme interventions. In their livelihood projects, they were required to secure certification of residency from their respective barangays, and to sign on banking documents such as acknowledgement of receipt of funds or to endorse checks for encashment. The elderly in particular were interested in accessing, as senior citizens, legal and material benefits provided to them by government. For parents who had children in school, functional literacy would allow them to provide some support to their children at home. CFSI responded to this need expressed by the IDP communities and launched the Literacy and Numeracy Program in January The three (3)-month course followed the prescribed program of the Department of Education. Para-teachers who were qualified to handle the non-formal classes were identified from the communities. CFSI s program envisioned a Literacy/Numeracy class for each of the five municipalities. Each class was projected to include an average of forty (40) students. In Pikit, the IDPs attended classes at the Buisan Evacuation Center while in Pagalungan, IDPs had their class at the Mahad Evacuation Center. In Pagagawan, the IDPs from Barangay Nabundas held their classes in their community while those from Barangay Talitay, attended their classes at the evacuation center. In Sitio Tabulon, Barangay General Luna, Carmen, North Cotabato, the program attracted 33 interested participants for classes in the community that started in January After they complete their functional literacy/numeracy classes, the IDPs can continue to access or participate in various non-formal education programs conducted by the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development and other NGOs. Livelihood During the period of Ramadan, time was spent preparing communities eligible for the Livelihood Assistance Upon Return (LAUR) to get their groups organized and have their project proposals firmed up. However, capabilitybuilding activities such as trainings in values and leadership formation were deferred until after the Ramadan since people could not stay long in meetings or other gatherings because of their religious observance of the fast. Livelihood assistance releases were likewise rescheduled to Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 13

16 prelude livelihood proceeds from being diverted to underwrite expenses for celebrations that follow the end of the Ramadan. Rainy weather led to the flooding of the farms within the Liguasan Marsh and resulted in some livelihood project failures. In Sitio Kabambanan, Gli-gli, Pikit, twenty-eight (28) families who initially planted red monggo beans were unable to sustain the project. Groups that engaged in corn farming also experienced project failure. As a result, many felt ashamed that they could not come up with the savings they had promised. This led many of them to become less active in attending meetings. Other groups requested that the scheduled deposit of their savings be deferred. In some barangays in Carmen, however, Livelihood Assistance Upon Return (LAUR) beneficiaries were able to meet their savings commitment. In Sitio Tabulon, Barangay General Luna, the four (4) livelihood groups were able to deposit their savings in the amount of Php 7,150 while each of the 18 beneficiary groups from five (5) sitios in Barangay Liliongan were able to deposit the amount of Php 500. The savings deposit process in the bank became an important learning experience for the community as they learned to value savings and to use these for various community needs. The social preparation aspect of the livelihood program was manifested during the meetings and consultations that became venues for discussion of matters of concern to their community. The process for the LAUR entitlement and releases showed to the people that the assistance from CFSI was not in the nature of a dole out as they had experienced from government or other groups. Furthermore, the process of group dynamics promoted better relationships in their families and communities. Thus, when groups were not ready to deposit any savings, the reasons for such decisions were processed with the group. The livelihood beneficiaries appeared to have learned the dynamics of the banking process. In December, the long awaited livelihood assistance for the IDP communities of Barangays Inug-ug, Kudal and Bagoenged in Pagalungan was released after the group members completed the training for LAUR. Capital for smallscale livelihood projects ranged from P1,200 to P 1,500 per group. Advocacy and Networking During the months of November and December, CFSI actively participated in various trainings, workshops and conferences such as the Cultural Dialogue of Peace for Stakeholders in Central Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Workshop sponsored by UNMDP, Women Working in Peace and Lumad Women Assembly under the auspices of the Mindanao Commission on Women and the Kusog Mindanao Conference. Part II 01 February 2003 to 28 February 2003 (During the AFP military offensives) The security situation began to worsen in mid January Security incidents, some of which were isolated and localized while others became recurring involving military and police pursuits of suspected members of kidnap-for-ransom gangs, started to be frequent. Such occurrences eventually gave rise to sporadic and temporary displacements and reached a critical point starting the month of February Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 14

17 On 16 January 2003, reports were received on several armed encounters between elements of the AFP and MILF forces in Barangay Columbio in the municipality of Sultan Kudarat which threatened to displace surrounding communities. Other incidents in Sitio Marapan and Sitio Quarry in Malapag, Carmen involving movements of armed men in MILF dominated areas were reported as well. Occasional warnings were given communities in Pagalungan and Pikit who were also monitoring the developments in Sultan Kudarat. A summary of the events that followed and CFSI s response to the changing situation are contained in ANNEX I. Community Organizing CFSI closely monitored local and national developments and gathered relevant information especially in and around the communities that CFSI serves. The team made emergency plans and assisted the communities in the formation of Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) that played a well-defined role during the displacement of February Many of the IDPs assisted by CFSI were thrown back to the evacuation centers during the resumption of hostilities. Status of the IDP situation on 11 February as reported by the Municipal Disaster Operations Center in Pikit, North Cotabato gave the following figures: 3,501 head of families, 16,640 dependents, total of 20,141 persons. Of the 28 barangays covered under the CFSI post conflict project, at least 16 barangays in three (3) municipalities were affected by the latest conflict. (Annex II) Only the municipalities of Carmen and Kabacan in North Cotabato were not directly affected by the latest armed conflict. The Inugug Elementary School was deserted due to the presence of armed groups but it did not suffer any material damage. The school was clearly marked so as not to be used or mistaken by the combatants. At the height of the renewed conflict, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) distributed rice and other food relief packets. OXFAM checked on water systems and sanitation facilities it had previously installed and planned to increase the toilet facilities at the Buisan warehouse. The Rural Health Units (RHU) attended to cases of diarrhoea, colds, cough and other forms of common ailments which were expected to rise as the number of displaced increase. For the municipalities of Pagalungan and Pagagawan, the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) still had to be organised and mobilised. DSWD requested CFSI to assist in the task. The CFSI-assisted Disaster Response Teams ((DRTs) were immediately activated and mobilised. CFSI assisted and took a supportive and facilitative role in coordinating humanitarian activities and services in evacuation centers particularly in Pagalungan and to a limited degree in Pikit. The DRTs facilitated quick access of IDPs to services and made the community-based leadership and committee structures in evacuation centers operational. CFSI s role during the latest conflict involved, in varying degrees, organizing, facilitating, training, advocacy, and providing psychosocial services. At the same time, CFSI continued providing programme interventions to the IDPs communities not directly affected by the most recent conflict. The Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 15

18 active presence of CFSI in many evacuation centers aimed to strengthen community participation and show the IDPs that they had the capacity to help themselves during disasters. As days went by, fighting continued and the number of displaced continued to rise. Security risks were high as sudden military or rebel roadblocks were set up without warning making travel irregular and risky. As a security precaution, NGO humanitarian teams often chose to travel in convoys. Regular bulletins published by the DSWD on the latest IDP and Evacuation Center (EC) situation were continuously monitored. The DSWD Bulletin of 16 February listed the number of evacuation centers at 53, affected families at 26,342 (148,832 persons), families served at 22,690 of which 56,636 persons were inside the evacuation centers while 70,389 persons were outside the ECs. Days after government troops took control of the Buliok Complex, efforts were made by the local government and the military authorities to get the IDPs return to their communities of origin. Transport facilities were provided and security escorts were assured. The vehicles carrying the returning residents were escorted by military personnel. Several families decided to return, only to go back to the safety of the evacuation centers when encounters between the MILF and the AFP started to increase in frequency. In fact, many of the residents did not feel ready to return due to the skirmishes. The hesitation remained even as the IDPs continued to worry about their farms, homes and animals that they left behind and their crops that were just about ready for harvest. As relief supplies dwindled, there was increasing pressure on the LGUs and national government as well as NGOs providing food and non-food items to ensure the IDPs immediate return to their communities of origin. However, issues of voluntary and safe return became a priority concern for the IDPs. CFSI advocated a quick process for the social preparation prior to the return of the IDPs. CFSI strongly argued for a processed versus a forced return of IDPs. Both issues became contentious and threatened to create tensions between the IDPs, LGUs and NGOs. As there were IDPs staying at the evacuation centers and others who were considered home based since they were living with relatives or friends, the issue on who was a qualified IDP became another contentious issue. CFSI took the position that the UN Guidelines on Internal Displacements should be followed in determining who is an IDP. CFSI considered DSWD the proper government agency for making this determination. Information At the time of renewed conflict, a total of 35 Pulungan Centers were already constructed, two (2) of which were funded by community-based organizations. All Pulungan Centers continued to be functional and were used primarily for community meetings. Likewise, they were also used in many communities as Day Care Centers or as a venue for kandulis (feasts) when people have returned. However, the Pulungan Center in Sitio Sapakan, Barangay Buliok in Pikit was hit and destroyed by a mortar shell while the one in Sitio Proper in Barangay Makabual was burned down. Information Caravans continued to be undertaken in communities and areas that were not directly affected by the conflict such as those in Carmen and Kabacan in North Cotabato and in three barangays in the municipality of Pagagawan. Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 16

19 Psychosocial Services CFSI through the Psychosocial Services Officer helped facilitate the joint meetings of line agencies and NGOs, particularly those involved in health issues. CFSI constructed three (3) emergency tent schools in the evacuation centers to allow the out of school children and youth from the Inug-ug Elementary School, as well as other children in the evacuation centers from other areas, to continue with their schooling. Play centers for the children were set up in Buisan Warehouse, Parish Gym, and Mahad in Pikit and at the Bai Annie compound in Pagalungan. These were staffed by CFSI-trained Psychosocial Caregivers from the IDP communities. Children from the Inug-ug Elementary School surprisingly and admirably attended classes at the emergency school in their school uniforms. Parents of the children related that the uniforms together with the school bags were the only precious possessions saved by their children as they fled from their homes. Particular focus was given to the vulnerable groups of women, children, the elderly and the sick. With the temporary closure of the Inug-ug Elementary School because of the security situation and the evacuation of the children s families to the evacuation centers, many of the IDPs availed of counseling and critical incident stress debriefing sessions. Immediate steps were taken to locate students from the Inug-ug Elementary School (IES). The children were asked to report to the emergency schools. Of the 356 registered students at IES, 326 were traced to be staying in 15 various evacuation centers in Pagalungan. Others were temporarily staying with relatives in other municipalities. When the emergency schools opened, only about half of the number of registered students attended classes. The number however increased when the feeding program was started. Some parents, however, still did not permit their children to join the emergency schools due to perceived security threats while others just stayed in their evacuation tents as their parents became busy looking for food. Although Carmen hosted displaced communities earlier in January, most of them had returned home before the February conflict. Post conflict activities for these areas continued to be implemented even while CFSI staff supported the on-going emergency operations in Pikit. Particular focus was given to the Literacy and Numeracy (LITNUM) program for women and elderly and the installation of harmony play centers. The LITNUM three-month program started in 2003 with 42 participants in Barangay General Luna, 30 students in Barangay Liliongan, 50 students in Barangay Tupig, in the municipality of Carmen. Likewise, 27 IDPs enrolled in Barangay Nangaan in the municipality of Kabacan. Community and Family Services International, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines 17