Drafted Resolution from Media ,Civil Society and Civic groups of Iligan City in a Post Sendong Discourset

Drafted Resolution from Media, Civil Society and Civic groups of Iligan City in a Post-Sendong Discourse

by Violeta M. Gloria on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 8:29am

[please share, final resolution will be posted soon]

MEDIA FORUM ON THE IMPACT OF TYPHOON SENDONG

Held on December 31, 2011, at Madelicious Native foods restaurant, Iligan City, jointly hosted by the CSO-FP, MMM, ITMAI and NUJP. In cooperation with German Development Cooperation (GIZ) –Civil Peace Service (ZFD) and Amnesty International (AI).

MEDIA FORUM RESOLUTIONS (DRAFT)

Context of the Disaster

In closing of year on December 31, 2011, the CSO-FP and the Media groups in Iligan City jointly conducted a Media Forum on the Impact of the Disaster, “typhoon Sendong”. The forum was started at 1:00 pm and ended at 5:00 pm, held at Madelicious Restaurant, Iligan City.

The forum was attended by 40 participants coming from the media, NGOs, CSOs and other sectors. The discussion of the topics involves the impact of typhoon “Sendong”. Prior To the incident, on December 16, 2011, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) informed the Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, that Iligan City was identified on weather forecast by the PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA), under the state of storm signal no.1 in the morning and the advisory was change to storm signal no. 2 in the late afternoon with a wind velocity rate of 65 KPH. This advisory was also featured in the TV news in the evening.

On the midnight of December 16-17, 2011, “Sendong” devastated Iligan City killing at least 490 persons, missing at least 390 and wounding 350 others. There were at least 11,396 families or equivalent to 50,878 persons affected by the disaster of all ages. There were 19 evacuation centers identified to house temporarily the survivors of the disaster. However, this figure will reduce definitely because some of the evacuees are gradually going back to their home places to stay in their still damaged houses. Others that has no more houses are staying in the tents.

Based on the reports from the information center of Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (ICDRRMC), there were 3,459 families who are homeless that need to be relocated to the identified resettlement sites for permanent shelter. The Council has identified through the newly organized Task Force Rehabilitation and Resettlement Committee, per recommendation by the Mines and Geo-science Bureau of the DENR, that a 15-hectare area in Sta. Elena is suited for resettlement site. Accordingly, the DSWD is preparing a subdivision plan to construct a house with a floor area of 60 square meters to be placed in a 80 square meters lot area. Each house to be constructed has allotted a budget of P70,000.

The City government of Iligan has received financial assistance from President Aquino during his visit on December 20, 2011 amounted to P11 Million for the relief operation and another P60 Million for the temporary shelter for the affected communities. Another financial assistance received from the office of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, amounted to P242.13 Million for the rehabilitation and resettlement of victim families. At least P20 Million amount received from other individual and institutional donors. A total of at least P333 Million financial assistance was received by the LGU of Iligan City for the rehabilitation of “Sendong” victims. In addition, a calamity fund of at least P50 Million is automati

Some survivors recounted that hundreds of logs heavily destructed many houses that caused massive killings. Media reports said that the DENR accounted at least 890 killer logs line-up in the seashores of Iligan City with estimated 5 kilometers long. These logs were coming from the forest areas in Rogongon, Iligan City, Tagoloan 2 and Kapai, Lanao del Sur. It was also found out that according to some witnesses, particularly in Rogongon, Mainit and some parts of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, there were presence of rampant illegal mining activities using “banlas”. The soil will be massively eroded through pressurized water in order to collect minerals such as gold and others.

Shared observations from the NGOs, CSOs and other groups reported that the workers of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) in the evacuation centers were very elusive to share their data. The NGOS, CSOs and other private groups and other non-state actors who are willing to help the evacuees effectively in terms of relief assistance needs reliable data from the government. It was suggested that the data available shall be based on the UN standards and be made available to humanitarian groups.

The Media forum was Jointly hosted by the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSO-FP), Manggagawang Media ng Mindanao (MMM), Iligan Tri-media Association (ITMAI) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).  This is in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) – Civil Peace Service (ZFD) and Amnesty International.

The purpose of the said forum was to determine the impact of the Disaster brought by typhoon “Sendong”, to come up with resolutions for the welfare of the Sendong victim survivors, and for the protection of the environment.

The forum participants came up with resolutions to be addressed to the concerned government institutions and agencies, and copy furnish to the non-state institutions, International NGOs and United Nations Agencies. The  Resolutions agreed upon by the forum participants are the following:

For the DENR and Local Governments

1. Stop mining operations and enforce logging ban, especially in the areas of Iligan City, Bukidnon and Lanao region. Cancel all logging permits and licenses in ARMM and stop issuing permits to operate logging companies within the ARMM and outside the ARMM. In general enforce total log ban in these areas for the protection of the water shed, in close coordination with the Military and Philippine National Police (PNP).

1. Include all stakeholders in the rehabilitation of all the identified watershed and forest areas in Iligan City, Bukidnon, Misamis oriental, and Lanao Provinces to be headed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and respective local governments.

1. The accounted to more or less 900 killer logs in Iligan City shall be confiscated in behalf of the local government of Iligan City. These logs shall be cut into lumber to be used for the rehabilitation of the “Sendong” survivors for their temporary shelter or permanent in nature. A “Task force Troso” shall be organized in every Barangay headed by the Barangay Chairman, to secure the killer logs not to be taken by anybody, and equipped with legal mechanisms. 

For the LGU of Iligan City, CSWD-DSWD, COH-DOH and PNP

1. Appeal to the local government of Iligan City for a working comprehensive disaster management plan as mandated in RA 10121 – the implementing rules and regulations of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC).

1. We also encourage the local government of Iligan City to be fully transparent in the delivery of humanitarian assistance through the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) with the cooperation of the DSWD and Civil Society Groups composed of Local, National and International, including the United Nations Humanitarian agencies.

1. We request for a transparent use of calamity fund and received donations with an estimated combine amount at P400 Million more or less, for purposes of information especially to the “Sendong” victim survivors.

1. Sustain the humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation program for the survivors of Sendong, secure health & sanitation and provide enough potable water supplies to the evacuation centers and the affected communities.

1. We request the health department to conduct regular medical check up to the evacuees in the evacuation centers and the people in the affected communities, for monitoring and treatment of illnesses and provide hygiene kits for women and nutrition for the children.

1. We request the LGU of Iligan City for the availability of a comprehensive data and needs assessment based on the United Nations (UN) standards to be posted in the web site for the purpose of uniformity of information and avoid disparity of figures clashing with other National government agencies.

1.  We request the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide security monitoring in the evacuation centers to prevent untoward incidents of criminalities especially to the women and children.

For the DPWH and DA

1. Request the DPWH to accelerate the construction of Iligan-Bukidnon road for massive economic development, a vital support on sustaining food security program. 

1.  Request the Department of Agriculture to accelerate the construction of farm-to-market roads and intensify agricultural development instead of logging and mining.

For the Media

1.  We appeal to media workers to report accurately and facilitate transparent governance and accountability, especially on responsible monitoring on the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

This resolution will be submitted to the concerned government agencies for immediate action and will be a benchmark for monitoring and follow-ups for the media, for purposes of transparency and accountability, and for the interest of public information and guidance.

Done this 31st day of December, 2011, Iligan City.

We certify the correctness of this resolution.

Certified by:

JUANITO C. ENRIQUEZ, JR.
Managing Director
CSO-FP, Iligan CIty
Chairman, Media Forum Secretariat



Attested by:


PASTOR R. TENORIO, JR.                                                                               FRANCISCO DOSDOS, JR.
President                                                                                                            Vice President
CSO-FP, Iligan City                                                                                           MMM, Iligan CIty



EMIE DE LOS SANTOS                                                                                     RICHEL UMEL
Vice President                                                                                                      President
ITAMI, Iligan City                                                                                              NUJP Iligan Chapter
Iligan CIty


Copies to:

1. His Excellency Benigno C Aquino III, President, Republic of the Philippines
2. Hon. Dinky Soliman, Secretary, DSWD
3. DOH Secretary
4. NDRRMC
5. Hon. Lawrence Ll. Cruz, Mayor, Iligan City
6. Hon. Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr., District Representative, Lone District, Iligan City
7. Hon. Henry C. Dy, Vice Mayor, Presiding Officer, Sangguniang Panglunsod, Iligan City
8. Ms. Grace Saquilabon, Department Head, CSWD, Iligan City
9. Dr. Livey Villarin, Department Head, City Healh Office, Iligan City
10. DPWH
11. DA
12. Hon. Oscar Moreno, Governor, Misamis Oriental
13. Hon. Bombit Adiong,, Governor, Lanao del Sur
14. Hon. Khalid Dimaporo, Governor, Lanao del Norte
15. DENR Secretary
16. UNOCHA
17. UNHCR
18. UNICEF
19. Col. Dan Lucero, Brigade Commander, 103rd Brigade, Marawi City
20. Col. Limoso, Brigade Commander, 2nd Mechanized Brigade, Ma. Cristina, Iligan City
21. PSSUPT Celso Regencia, City Director, PNP, Iligan City