By Jocelyn P. Avarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Now on its 11th
day, Zamboangueños continue to selflessly help one another in any way they
can. Small or big donations, little or
huge efforts for the evacuees, everyone is trying to give the best that he can
to somehow lighten the situation. Though physically exhausted, but the desire
and willingness to help still reigns.
This crisis has
brought the Zamboangueños closer to each other than ever. As mayor Beng Climaco
said “Zamboanga is ours. Zamboanga is for
our children. We shall not allow other forces to reign in our city. Let’s help
each other.”
Myra, one Zamboangueña said “kansao
ya yo tene miedo kanila, pirmi escondido na kasa. Nisisita yo sale kasa para
kumpra kumida para mio pamilya (I’ve had enough. Am tired of being afraid
of them (MNLF). I need to go out of the house to buy food for my family.)”
The locals here are
starting to mend what was broken, starting to pick up the pieces with high
hopes of continuous assistance and support from the local and national
government.
Gaining ground, moving
on
As AFP Spokesperson
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala would repeatedly say in every press conference conducted
daily- “We are gaining ground,” the
locals also shout out: “we are moving on.” Yes it may be hard, because as
of this writing, gunbattle can still be heard, coupled with another two
separate fires in Sta. Catalina and Rio Hondo – the areas classified as danger
zone.
Nonetheless, more
establishments are now opening up; flights resume; more banks open; economic
activities are being done beyond the conflict areas; and more passenger
jeepneys and tricycles are seen on the city streets.
As Mayor Climaco
said “Our city may not right away get
back to normalcy, but we are trying to make steps to begin the work for people
to get back to our toes.”
Joint efforts
Mayor Climaco said both the national and local governments continue to
exhaust all means to be able to respond to all the needs of the people in the
evacuation centers, in hospitals, in the nerve centers, and even in the funeral
parlors.
Meals and family packs, medicines and other basic necessities are
being provided to evacuees housed in over 30 evacuation centers, of which the
largest center is the Joaquin F Enriquez (JFE) Memorial Sports Complex with
over a hundred thousand evacuees sheltered.
Health Secretary
Enrique Ona came to personally verify the health needs of the city and will
open more operating facilities and make emergency rooms functional in the
satellite hospital set up at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU)
gymnasium to readily respond to the medical needs of the patients.
The lady mayor also
announced “a team of volunteers and
mental health professionals will provide debriefing to the hostages with social
workers giving therapy and teachers conducting counseling sessions at the evacuation
centers.”
The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) headed by Secretary Corzaon “Dinky”
Soliman is closely coordinating with the local government as to rehabilitation
plans.
“Her instruction is to build back better, akel cosa
antes sila tiene maga casa ay hace mas bueno pa (rebuild houses
better than the houses they had before),” Mayor Climaco assured.
It can be recalled
that over a thousand houses were razed to the ground as a result of the
standoff between the military and the MNLF breakaway group of Nur Misuari.
Soliman has assured
the city that services will continuously be available to include water,
sanitation, women and children protection and food distribution among others.
“It will also make available support packages for small
and micro enterprises for them to jumpstart livelihood activities. Cash for
work schemes will be made available for a member of each household or family
affected by the conflict,” Climaco announced.
On Sept. 18, the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has pledged to make available some P4
million for emergency employment of displaced workers. Workers shall be
utilized for upkeep and maintenance of evacuation centers, food distribution
and the like.
“The City Social
Welfare and Development Office through the PESO has been tasked to initiate
ways on how to come up with a list of those that will be hired,” Climaco said.
The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) ensures continuous supply of
water for evacuees at JFE Sports Complex. Bottled water is also being provided.
Medical teams from both public and private entities selflessly offer
their time to continuously give medical services to the displaced individuals.
To ensure sanitation, portable toilets or potalets were also provided.
Donations of assorted goods are continuously coming in at the Crisis
Management Center (CMC) and there are more than enough volunteers helping in
the packing and distribution of the goods donated.
Private groups, business sectors and many individuals are also doing
their own share in helping not only the evacuees but also the government
soldiers by providing foods and other provisions.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, on the other hand,
assured that “there are enough food and budget for our soldiers.”
The city will also open an account to cater to those individuals,
groups or organization, here and abroad who wish to give cash assistance for
the evacuees.
Children are being provided with supplemental feeding by the DSWD and
“story-telling time” was also conducted for the day care kids at the JFE
evacuation center.
Zamboangueños appreciate PNoy’s presence
President Aquino’s presence here in the city for six days now boosts
morale not only of the government forces fighting for Zamboanga, but also of
the Zamboangueños.
One radio announcer
said he is happy that the President “stood” by the Zamboangueños in this trying
time. He said he appreciates the President’s support to Zamboanga “kay nuway
ele canatun deha, taki ele kanatun asta ara (he (President) did not leave us,
he is still here with us up to this time).”
It can be
recalled that President Aquino arrived here in Zamboanga on Sept. 13 to
personally assess the ongoing situation , PNoy brought with him boxes of
assorted goods that included 4,000 bottles of Gatorade
(donated by Pepsi Philippines); 19 boxes or 4,000 strips of Enervon C; 5,000
tablets of Vitamin B Complex and Ascorbic Acid; 1,500 pieces of Globe Cell
Cards; 1,500 pieces of Smart Cell Cards; 1,000 pieces of Sun Cell Cards; 440 cases
of assorted candies and chocolates; and 4,000 boxes of Growers Nutribar. (PIA9)