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Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral reported
that internally displaced persons (IDPs) formerly staying in the
evacuation centers in Lanao del Norte have returned to their places
of origin. According to Secretary Cabral, some 30,405 families have
returned to their homes out of the 37,033 affected families in Lanao
del Norte.
Secretary Cabral stated that, “the improved
peace and order situation in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao
is one of the reasons why more families are now leaving the
evacuation centers to return to their homes. The IDPs are from the
municipalities of Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Poona Piagapo, Munai,
Tangkal, Pantar Ragat, Magsaysay, Maigo, Tubod and Iligan City in
Lanao del Norte.”
Since the fighting occurred in July of this year
between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),
some 143,456 families (or about 690,225 persons) were affected by
the armed-conflict in nine provinces in Lanao del Norte in Region X,
North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in
Region XII, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan
in Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao.
The DSWD has provided P76 million worth of
assistance composed of food and non-food relief items to these
families.
“We will continue to provide maximum
assistance to the evacuees in adherence to the directive of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to further facilitate the needs of
the returning IDPs,” added Cabral.
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