MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--To cause joy to residents impacted by the 2017 siege during this year’s Ramadan season, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) continues to spearhead its three-day Duyog Ramadan which is a regular seasonal program aiming to deliver aid to its target beneficiaries.  

OPAPRU kicked off the program on Tuesday, April 18, by visiting the Dulay Transitory Shelter in Barangay Dulay Proper here to distribute sacks of rice to at least 250 dwellers. 

On its second day, April 19, OPAPRU handed over ten kilos of rice and prayer dress to 305 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living at Rorogagus Transitory Shelter Phase 1 and 2 located in Barangay Rorogagus East.

True to its aim, recipients were relieved by the presence of the OPAPRU in their place.

Rorogagus Transitory Shelter resident Sorayah Sarip thanked the agency for the rice assistance, saying a lot of them needed the rice during this time of Ramadan.

Another Rorogagus Transitory Shelter resident Aslima Hadji Latiph was also happy with the arrival of the OPAPRU. 

She stated that the ten kilos of rice and mokna {praying dress) they received were timely as most of them did not have stable livelihood and income to buy some food. 

Moreover, Jaslia Abbas, the president of Rorogagus Transitory Shelter’s Homeowners Association (HOA), conveyed her appreciation to OPAPRU on behalf of her fellow IDPs as she saw how they were assisted ever since they were still temporarily residing in evacuation centers. 

She stressed that this was already a significant matter for them, taking into account that relief goods nowadays are getting fewer compared to the previous years and that their area is far from the heart of the city, thus, having less access to their necessities.

“Nagpapasalamat talaga kami sa OPAPRU kasi since nasa tent city kami until now, binigyan pa rin kami. Sana laging nandiyan ang OPAPRU na lagi kaming tinutulungan. Masayang masaya ang mga tao dahil pa-Eid na,” said Abbas 

[We are really thankful to OPAPRU because since we were still in the tent city until now, we are still given. I hope OPAPRU will always be there to help us. People here are very happy now that Eid is already coming.]

The HOA president further acknowledged the efforts of the private stakeholders who donated the rice sacks distributed to the residents at their site. 

She prayed that these donors would not cease supporting IDPs living in temporary shelters. 

Amilbangsa Magarang, another resident of Rorogagus Transitory Shelter, expressed his endless gratitude to OPAPRU for providing their current necessity.

Rorogagus Transitory Shelter resident Ansari Mama, on the other hand, was likewise grateful to the government agency, considering that what has been handed over to them was a big advantage, especially since they are in poverty. 

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa inyong lahat sa pagbisita sa amin dito sa Rorogagus. Malaking bagay ito para sa amin dahil naghihirap kami ngayon. Sana huwag kayong tumigil sa pagsuporta,” he said.

(We are thankful to all of you for visiting us here in Rorogagus. This is a big thing for us because we are struggling right now. I hope you do not stop supporting us.)

The OPAPRU earlier repeated its commitment to maintaining its efforts for IDPs in temporary sites.

The Duyog Ramadan program April 20 giving out more 10 kilos of rice to 130 residents at Bahay Pag-asa II in Barangay Mipaga in the same city. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)