MERN Lanao to explore solidarity mission for the Earthquake victims in North Cotabato

MERN-Lanao Region composed of CSOs leaders in its meeting, 5 November 2019, for the Solidarity Mission in North Cotabato affected by the earthquake.

Iligan City – Tulunan, North Cotabato was the epicenter of the series of earthquakes. Based on Phivolcs data, just last week an earthquake registered at 6.6 and 6.5 magnitudes on October 29 and 31, respectively and recorded 590 earthquake aftershocks . 

An information from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), there are 25,600 people affected as internally displaced persons (IDPs) with 2,200 homes sustained damages utilizing 400 schools served as evacuation centers and number of host families (home based IDPs) in the localities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is distributing food and relief assistance to the affected families and setting up temporary shelters. Local Authorities reported that their food and relief supplies are almost depleted due to repeated response to earthquakes that repeatedly occurs. Initial assessments from the government and civil society groups showed that emergency shelter is a priority need, because many homes were destroyed or people are unsafe to stay in their houses because walls are nearly collapsing. As strong earthquakes expected to occur, affected communities will remain outdoors and advice to monitor the weather conditions especially heavy rains to occur.

The Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) of Lanao Region, composed of Civil Society groups (CSOs) from non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples Organizations (POs), Academe, religious and other sectors based in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur will conduct Solidarity Mission on November24-28, 2019 in North Cotabato, particular in Makilala town in the two isolated barangays due to landslides, the Barangays of Bato and Malungon close to Tulunan town.

The mission aims to conduct relief operation for the internally displaced peoples (IDPs) by giving food and non-food items including hygiene kits, conduct psycho-social activities especially to the women and children, and needs assessment of the earthquake affected areas for further disaster response related activities in the future.

Prior to the mission, available volunteers will be trained on psychosocial processes to capacitate them in facilitating the psychosocial activities on the target beneficiaries. There are at least 30 volunteers to join the solidarity mission in Makilala, North Cotabato.

The MERN Lanao is knocking the hearts to everyone who have the kindness to give donations for the Makilala earthquake victims. It may be in-kind, food and non-food items will be received by the Pailig Development Foundation, Inc. (PDFI) at 0076 Badelles Street, Pala-o, Iligan city (fronting AIM COOP). Contact person is Ms. Mai Moya, Acting Managing Director of PDFI with mobile phone # 09177169933.

For Cash donations may be deposited in the bank at BDO Iligan at account no. 001800387855 with the Account name, Pakigdait, Inc.. the contact person is Mr. Abel Moya, executive Director of Pakigdait, Inc. and can be reached at mobile phone # 09177732303.

In Marawi City, donations will be received by the Kalimudan Foundation, Incorporated (KFI). Mr. Ding Cali is the Executive Director of KFI.

The Nonviolent Peaceforce, an International NGO, will also join the Solidarity mission.