Students and youth groups spearhead Cotabato Humanitarian Relief Operation

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 28 -- Last week, President Benigno Aquino III personally visited Cotabato City and distributed relief goods to thousands of residents affected by flood in Maguindanao and nearby provinces in Mindanao.

Here in the Mindanao State University main campus, the United Voices for Peace Network (UVPN), in coordination with the Silsilah Forum-Marawi chapter, is spearheading the Cotabato Humanitarian Relief Operation.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Hamodi Lao Tiboron, UVPN executive president said that aside from Silsilah Forum, other youth and student organizations, fraternities and sororities and tribal organizations in Mindanao and even in Manila have signified their support to this noble cause.

Lornito Mahinay, Jr., chapter president of Silsilah Forum-Marawi said that they have established donation centers in MSU-Marawi dormitories and cottages and also in the cities of Iligan, Butuan and General Santos.

Rice, canned goods, noodles, used clothing and cash may be brought to these donation centers, Tiboron said.

“We would also like to thank the Philippine Army for volunteering to deliver the collected relief goods to Cotabato City on Saturday, July 2,” Tiboron said.

Mahinay also said that the relief goods they will be able to collect will not all be delivered to Cotabato City “because we believe that most of the relief goods coming from Manila are delivered there.”

“We would also like to cater to the needs of those victims who are not in evacuation centers such as those in other areas in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat,” he added.

“We would also like to coordinate with government agencies here in the city such as the National Food Authority if they could also extend any form of assistance to the thousands of flood victims in those areas,” Manihay added.

Tiboron is also appealing to the local, regional and national governments to seriously look into the flood problem that has been recurring every time heavy downpour is experienced in those areas in Maguindanao and Cotabato. (Bobby Ilupa)