MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)-- As part of sustaining their peace efforts here, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has once again reached out to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) dwelling in Lake View Transitory Shelter in Barangay Boganga by conducting a peace dialogue to assess and look into their current situation.

More than 50 women, youths, and 30 kids participated in this event.

IDP Raisah Bangonan, living in the covered temporary shelter, expressed how delighted she was to be visited. She showed an overwhelming feeling after OPAPRU spent some time with them, saying this was crucial, especially since they were still in the recovery stage.

“Nabigyan niyo kami ng kasiyahan at nabuksan ang puso namin sa mga aral ng nakaraang siege [You gave us happiness, and our hearts are open to the lessons of the previous siege],” said Bangonan.

Other IDPs from the same shelter, Muslimah Lala and Janisah Abato, thanked the OPAPRU for the concern and love it conveyed through its recent activity, as this signified that they were still seen as relevant.

“Importante sa amin ang pagpunta nila dito kasi hindi naman palagi na may pumuntang agency dito [Their visit to us is significant because agencies do not always come here],” said Abato.

The peace conversation allowed the target population to share and address their concerns as they struggled to survive in an impermanent site.

For Bangonan, it was her prayer that they would be assisted in formalizing their established cooperative, which started two years ago and has 12 members now.

She stated that this group has significantly contributed to alleviating their lives, as they underwent a tough life wherein they could barely eat three times a day and their students did not have sufficient supplies.

Lala confirmed this and expressed her hope that the government's assistance would improve both the lives of the other locals and the group they founded many years ago.

“Kami dito ay bihira lang bisitahin. Hindi kami active sa ibang agency, kaya baka pwede isali niyo kami sa mga tutulungan ng kahit anong agency na maaaring makatulong po sa amin [We are rarely visited here. We are not active in other agencies; that is why, if possible, we will be helped out by any agency that can help us],” she said.

Apart from conversing with the IDPs, various aids were distributed, including mukna, or prayer clothes, school supplies, hygiene kits, and food packs. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)