Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman clarified that the construction of temporary transitional shelters for Lumads affected by the on-going armed conflict in Surigao del Sur was still a proposal that needed the concurrence of the affected families themselves and the local government.
“When I met with them, I told the community leaders to present this proposal to their constituents and get their opinion,” Sec. Soliman said.
“I have learned that they refused the proposal and we respect that. We will take the lead from the local government unit and from the community leaders on what else can be done to ensure that their daily needs are met and their safety is not compromised,” Sec. Soliman continued.
The Secretary offered the proposal as an interim solution while peace is being worked out in the area. It was not meant to pull them out from their ancestral lands.
“The proposal for setting up temporary transitional shelters in Tandag where the governor would look for a place for these, is based on our experience of the Zamboanga crisis. Just like in Zamboanga, where hundreds of evacuees stayed at the city’s grandstand, staying in in the sports complex is a big humanitarian risk as it is not constructed for resettlement,” Sec. Soliman further explained.
“It came to my attention that many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were complaining about their deplorable condition in the evacuation centers, and I meant well when I proposed that they may transfer into safer and more comfortable place,” Sec. Soliman said.
Sec. Soliman said that she was concerned about the situation of the vulnerable sectors such as the elderly, the persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, the sickly, and the children, whose health and safety are adversely affected by being exposed to diseases, harsh elements, and even abuse.
Sec. Soliman said that the Aquino administration puts premium to the safety and welfare of the IDPs.
She hoped that peace comes sooner so that the evacuees can go back to their normal lives and children can go to school. ###
