Press Release: Mindanao youth commemorate Sendong's wrath

Four years of Sendong, people left in havoc

 

DECEMBER 17, 2015 – Four years after Typhoon Sendong struck, the Aquino administration remains negligent on the state’s responsibility to resolve the typhoon’s damage and losses.

We, the League of Filipino Students in Northern Mindanao Region (LFS-NMR), express strong condemnation against the state’s criminal negligence on its snail-pacing rehabilitation to the Sendong-stricken areas, where up until now are lacking of basic services and descent response.

Out of the 37,552 houses which had been fully devastated during Sendong, the government only installed 6,890 relocation houses – still lacking of electric and water supply, livelihood and basic social services.

"This record shows how inept the Aquino administration is and on its incapability of implementing responsible actions towards the victims of Sendong," said Kristine Cabardo, Spokesperson of LFS-NMR.

At the same time, we convey outrage at the Aquino administration’s lack of political will in developing and implementing a comprehensive disaster response program and decry its reactive approach to handling calamities and emergencies. The devastation happened notwithstanding repeated warnings and studies on the effects and impact of environmental degradation and climate change;

An environmental crisis, caused by unregulated large-scale mining, logging and quarrying, coupled with the Aquino government’s budget cuts on disaster preparedness and other social services created the conditions for such a calamity.

"The government downplayed its role by providing only band-aid solutions through their unsustainable relief materials, while environmental destruction hasn’t been pointed out as the main culprit," Cabardo explained.

We lament that the lessons from Sendong are being continuously unheeded, resulting in another painful disaster that wrought havoc to lives and properties – the typhoon Pablo, Yolanda, Seniang, Lando, Nona, and more reported disasters.

2,546 death was recorded during Sendong, 1,901 during Pablo, and 6,300 during Yolanda.

We can’t afford another Sendong, nor Pablo and Yolanda to happen. But the government shows that it is incapable and negligent to resolve this calamity issues. Hence, never be denied that the current system does not serve the interests of its people but is rather zealous of serving the demands of its ‘bosses’ - the local and foreign profit-greed capitalists.

"We could anticipate more disaster under this disastrous administration for compromising its local and foreign business ventures, while expensing the lives of its people," Cabardo added.

LFS-NMR urged the youth and student sector to be in solidarity with the victims of typhoon Sendong and all other disasters which took thousands of lives of the Filipinos. More than lighting candles and offering flowers, we should be one with the people in demanding justice for the victims of state’s criminal negligence.
JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF SENDONG!

Photo Release: PBSP

CHAMPIONS FOR EDUCATION – Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) strengthen their partnership for the implementation of projects on Senior High School (SHS) and disaster management. Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties last December 7, 2015 at Accenture Philippines’ office in Mandaluyong City, CCAP will promote the programs and encourage its members to donate resources while PBSP will act as the primary receiver of all charitable donations from CCAP and its members. Among the projects are SHS educational assistance, School to Work program, as well as Professional Development Program for Teachers. In photo during the signing ceremony are: (from left) Jay Santisteban, CCAP operations director; Louie Benedict Hernandez, CCAP president; Rafael Lopa, PBSP executive director; and Marylin Muncada, PBSP PMO-Education director. Photo PBSP

Interfaith support network for Lumad launched

 

09 December 2015, Cagayan de Oro City—An interfaith network supporting the indigenous peoples in their fight for their rights is launched today at the Philtown Hotel.

 

Named ‘Higala sa Lumad’ [Friends of the Lumads] Network, the higalas will help protect indigenous communities – ‘Lumad’ being the collective term for the indigenous peoples of Mindanao - primarily through campaign popularization.

 

Its members are composed of individuals and organisations from various denominations that will be monitoring the rights situation of the communities and will conduct quick response activities when needed. These activities include fact-finding missions, lobbying, legal support, and online campaigns among others.

 

“We have gathered over a hundred supporters not only from the Philippines but also from other countries the campaigns on indigenous peoples’ rights have reached,” said Atty. Czarina Golda Musni, core group member of the ‘Higala sa Lumad’.

 

The network is created under the ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project, an initiative aimed at addressing marginalization issues of the Lumad. One of its components hopes to increase financial, material and other forms of support for the protection and security of indigenous leaders and communities.

 

The inauguration program starts with a message from the project manager, Sr. Ma. Famita Somogod, MSM. The nun has previously worked with indigenous communities through the literacy and numeracy schools of the Missionary Sisters of Mary.

 

“As workers in Lumad communities, we have experienced threats and harassments ourselves,” said Sister Somogod. “I am glad that despite the attacks on the Lumad campaigns, many are still convinced that what we are fighting for is right.”

 

On December 8, the project also inaugurated the Tagtabulon Cooperative at Brgy. Banglay, Langonglong, Misamis Oriental. Its members are from the Higaonon community in Sitios Camansi, Tapol, and Anahaw in Banglay.

 

The establishment of the cooperatives in indigenous communities is to give them financial capacity to sustain their needs even as they work on their campaigns.

 

These activities are geared towards the commemoration of the international declaration of December 10 as Human Rights Day.  In the previous months, indigenous communities have staged actions, lobbying, and various campaign activities in the region as well as in the national capital to decry the escalation of attacks against their schools and communities.

 

The ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project is one with the Lumad in their fight for their right to their land, to a self-determined development, and their right to continue their living traditions and culture. The project is spearheaded by the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) Inc and is supported by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.