THE armed conflict between government forces and pro-ISIS rebels forcibly displaced the majority of Marawi City’s population as well as residents of surrounding communities who were forced to flee due to extreme food shortages and constricted local economies.
To help affected people of Brgy. Pugaan, the Office of the President Adviser on Peace Process (Opapp), Maranao People Development Center Incorporated (Maradeca), and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) provided a livelihood intervention to internally displaced individuals (IDPs) through a rice wholesaling and retailing program.
“Yun dumating sa amin ang Opapp through Maradeca, may mga (pieces of training) kami about sa Financial Management, Business Management, Leadership- lahat ng pwede namin maiapply sa cooperative namin,” expressed Arlin Carlisa who is grateful to the interventions of government agencies to Pugaan Women’s Rice Dealer Cooperative and her community in Brgy. Pugaan.
“We have received the sacks of rice from Opapp at the People’s Park (on) February 20, 2020,” Arlin said.
The women of Brgy Pugaan were given sacks of rice to sustain the needs of their family in the comforts of their home. There blossoms the Pugaan Women’s Rice Dealers Cooperative wherein its members enjoy reduced costs and bargaining power in the cooperative with the rice wholesaling and retailing.
The effort of Opapp, Maradeca, and TFBM aim to enable the IDPs to cope up with the displacement and resume their lives in safety and dignity.
“Para sa Opapp at Maradeca, sa Task Force Bangon Marawi, talagang malaki po naitulong niyo sa amin. Maraming salamat po kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao mabibigyan ng ganitong opportunity. Yung sa akin, salamat ng marami sa inyo kasi hindi niyo kami pinabayaan at hindi niyo kami nakalimutang tulungan.’’ Carisa said.
Presently, through government and non-government organizations, these families remain hopeful and resilient that amid the prolonged misery of getting their normal lives uprooted, their condition will get better soon. (PIA-10)
