Lanao Sur donates P2.5-m worth of relief goods to Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY -Lanao del Sur have turned-over around P2.5 million worth of relief goods on Monday to the Tabang Sibilyan donation center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in this city to help evacuees in Maguindanao.The relief goods were transported on thirteen forward trucks and included 272 sacks of rice, canned goods, noodles, and other food and non-food items.ARMM has launched a relief and peace advocacy campaign early this month in response to the escalating conflict in Maguindanao, which has already displaced 25,067 families.Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman has also ordered the drafting of a humanitarian and development action plan to address the rehabilitation and other post-conflict needs of affected communities.The region spends more than P1 million daily on food assistance alone for the thousands of families staying in at least 75 evacuation centers in the province.Haroun Alrashid Lucman, ARMM vice-governor and concurrent Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary, lauded the people of Lanao del Sur for responding to the call for aid of displaced families in Maguindanao.The donations from Lanao del Sur were collected by the Saksi Islamic Radio Forum and Foundation (SIRFF), the Lanao Confederation for Peace and Grand Mufti Alim Murad Amanodin.The group launched a provincial counterpart of ARMM’s donation drive Tabang Sibilyan and urged political leaders to take actions and restore peace in Maguindanao. We sympathize with our Muslim brothers affected by the military’s all-out offensive in Maguindanao, which has resulted to massive displacement among civilians,” said Musa Sultan of the SIRFF.