MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--As almost six years have already rolled by since the 2017 warfare marked the history of this city, the government strives to make internally displaced persons (IDPs) feel that they are not left behind.
Amidst the Ramadan season this year, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) enforced once again its regular seasonal program called Duyog Ramadan to extend various initiatives to displaced residents currently residing in temporary sites.
The said program kicked off, April 18, delivering rice aid to a total of 250 dwellers at Dulay Transitory Shelter in Barangay Dulay Proper, here.
OPAPRU Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Focal and Project Development Officer (PDO) Marie Rose Abejuela underscored that aside from joining their Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating Ramadan, the activity also manifests that the IDPs are always on the minds of a lot of Filipinos who want to empathize with their tragic experiences.
"We want our IDPs who have been here since the Marawi siege to know that they are not forgotten, and there are definitely people in Manila and other areas in the Philippines who care and think about them," she said.
Abejuela said the private sector always tries to help these needy residents.
This, as she explained, was why the rice sacks distributed to the beneficiaries were donations from companies such as those based in Iligan City, and were collected within just two days.
"We reached out to those who really supported us in the past for our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao. When we asked them to donate rice, very good ang answer nila (their answer was very good). The donation was very overwhelming," said Abejuela.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Focal and Project Development Officer (PDO) Marie Rose Abejuela shares that the sacks of rice distributed through their Duyog Ramadan program are donated by some private stakeholders, signifying that there are still people caring for the internally displaced persons. (RCG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
Looking forward to more moments with the IDPs, the OPAPRU echoed its promise to maintain its support so long as it is still needed.
"OPAPRU will continuously care for them, and it is not just OPAPRU. The whole Philippines cares for them, as we can see from this [rice] distribution. We thank them for their courage, and we will continue to pray for them that they will continue to stay strong until they can go back home," said Abejuela.
Apart from rice distribution during the holy month of Ramadan, the OPAPRU is also remembered for having conducted peace conversations with former combatants and children in temporary shelters. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
