US-BASED NGO COMMENDED FOR HELPING VICTIMS OF MINDANAO CONFLICT

        TAGBILARAN CITY -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today warned that the political and economic situation in Muslim Mindanao remains critical due to the ongoing armed conflict even as he commended a United States-based non-government organization for its initiatives in helping people displaced by the war.

        Pimentel said the recent bloody skirmishes between government troops and the combined forces of Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, illustrate the gravity of the insurgency and terrorism problems in the South.

        A report of the Philippine National Red Cross showed there are still about 300,000 refugees and displaced persons in Muslim Mindanao who have to rely on the assistance of the government, NGOs and foreign aid groups after they were driven out of their homes and farms by the continuing hostilities.

        Speaking at the convention of the PDP Laban Tagbilaran City Chapter, the senator from Mindanao batted for a twin approach to address the Muslim insurgency and underdevelopment problem.

        "We should enforce the law against hooligans and bandit groups, the so-called lost commands even of the MILF. We should bring development into areas that need it," he said.

        Pimentel stressed that the government must pour development funds into the conflict areas and see to it that funds are spent properly.

       Stressing that the government cannot do this alone, he said the help of friends, domestic and foreign is needed to get development to areas ravaged by the armed conflict.

        Pimentel identified the Asia-American Initiative, headed by its president Al Santoli, as one of the NGOs that, without fanfare, are doing a lot to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the Mindanao war in the form of livelihood, health and education projects and promoting the culture of peace.

        "Asia American Initiative describes its approach in Mindanao as 'building a culture of peace one step at a time,' " he said.

        "They provide different programs in the region that would help the people utilize their resources, whether human or environmental of which they have been blessed."

        Pimentel said the AAI's unique Livelihood Development Programs integrate public education with building economic structures.

        He said the group's Garden of Peace Program creates food self-sufficiency through schools and farming cooperatives in Muslim Mindanao war zones; the Fruits of Hope has prevented armed conflicts in Sulu and Central Mindanao through farm-to-market program for local farmers; women's literacy and livelihood program has aided more than 125 families; and the fisheries production and seaweed farmers programs at the Mindanao States University have trained more than 500 fisheries families.

        "Although I hardly know the people behind AAI especially Al Santoli whom I have met only twice in my life, I think we owe the AAI for extending help not only to the stricken areas of Muslim Mindanao but to other parts of the country as well," Pimentel said.

        The AAI also reported it has extended assistance to the refugees and displaced persons throughout Muslim Mindanao as follows:

        Since 2002, AAI has provided more than $l5 million in donated medical supplies to the provinces that lacked all categories of public health.

        It provided medical care to more than 100,000 evacuees in the war zone.

       The AAI's Peace Program in Sulu focused on grassroots education and livelihood project that helped guerilla fighters to peacefully integrate into society.

        It implements a Trauma Healing Program with more than 200 community volunteers serving more than 10,000 Muslim and Christian families affected by violence in their respective areas.