DAVAO CITY - The town mayor of South Upi in Maguindanao province has urged authorities to help them settle the conflict that has sent hundreds of residents fleeing from their homes.
"Aside from the primary basic needs, which is food assistance for the affected families, we need peaceful communities in our municipalities through the mediation of leaders,” South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular said in a statement released by the Bangsamoro Government Friday.
Insular survived an ambush on his convoy last January 3 in Barangay Pandan, a month after the first attack of an armed group which led to the evacuation of 258 families of Sitio Manguda, Sitio Silay, and Sitio Gigti from Barangay Itaw
Insular said it was followed by separate attacks on December 31 and January 1, which affected 599 families.
Insular also thanked the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Provincial Government of Maguindanao, Non-Government Orgainzations, and other partners who helped them.
MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie led the turnover of non-food items to benefit hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on Thursday, Jan. 7.
The local government will lead the distribution of gallon water containers, tarps, mosquito net, blanket, and sleeping mat, to the 310 families from Barangay Itaw.
"Sa ngayon, ito muna ang naibigay natin but we look for other intervention. For instance titingnan natin ang ibang mga IDPs kung kwalipikado ba sila sa ibang programa ng MSSD katulad ng livelihood assistance,” Jajurie said.
MSSD will also be having a joint assessment with other agencies and development partners to discussed other relevant interventions for the affected families.