Government asked to ensure assistance for Sabah returnees

CEBU, Philippines - Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva urged the government to speed up the execution of humanitarian measures to ensure affected families in Mindanao and returnees from Sabah are given all the necessary assistance to cope with the crisis.

Villanueva made the appeal as the plight of communities in Mindanao reportedly continues to worsen as a result of continued hostilities in Sabah.

He said basic services such as healthcare, livelihood assistance, and security remain lacking in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan where families affected by the Sabah hostilities live and majority of Filipino returnees in Sabah are from.

Villanueva said insufficient and in some cases, even non-existent basic government facilities such as health centers in these provinces only highlight the urgency of the need for the national government to provide support in these areas which are among the poorest provinces in the country.

“With the rate Filipinos working in Sabah are returning to their home provinces and with more expected to follow in the coming weeks, the government should work double time to swiftly implement humanitarian measures for our returnees,” Villanueva said during his recent visit to Cebu.

He said that the urgency of the need to provide basic social services in these areas is only highlighted by the fact that Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan are home to poorest families in the country who are most vulnerable to crises such as the one we are facing now.

In particular, Villanueva said the government should establish sufficiently-manned and fully-equipped health facilities in these areas that offer regular medical services as well as specialized psychological services for those who are suffering from trauma as a result of the recent violence in Sabah.

He also suggested that government should consider opening up a credit facility that will allow returnees from Sabah to build their homes and start small businesses for their livelihood.

 Villanueva also urged the government to stabilize prices of basic goods in these provinces, citing reports that prices of commodities in these areas have skyrocketed following the constriction of traditional supply routes to Sabah.

He added that ample security measures must also be put into place to ensure that affected communities particularly the elderly, women and children are not subjected to further abuses or violence. (FREEMAN)