Palace: Aid evacuees in South

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo ordered government agencies yesterday to extend assistance to tens of thousands of evacuees in Mindanao to return to their homes or be relocated as they continue to languish in temporary shelters since 2008.

Mrs. Arroyo directed Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) chairman Jesus Dureza during a Cabinet meeting at the Palace to relocate and give assistance to about 84,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in 56 evacuation shelters in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

The IDPs, comprising about 17,000 families, fled their homes during the bloody rampage of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels after its controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the government was not signed in August 2008.

“The Mindanao Development Authority was tasked today by Malacañang to take full charge of assisting thousands of IDPs,” Dureza said, adding he was ordered to form a group that would integrate efforts of national agencies to assist and relocate the IDPs.

He admitted there continues to be peace and order concerns in certain areas in Maguindanao, which explain why the residents who fled refused to return to their homes.

Dureza, however, could not say how the security situation in the area is being stabilized.

He said Mrs. Arroyo wants the IDPs to be relocated before her term ends on June 30. If that would not be possible, the MDA would ensure that the effort would be institutionalized so the next administration could continue the program.

Dureza said the move will also be done in coordination with international donor and relief agencies assisting the IDPs. Of the 56 evacuation centers, 52 are located in Maguindanao.

He said livelihood and possibly housing assistance would be given to them.

He said it would be up to the IDPs to decide whether to return to their homes or be relocated.