CFSI helps 3,172 vulnerable individuals in Lanao del Sur secure birth certificate

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Noting the importance of birth certificates to authenticate one's identity and gain access to basic social services, the Community Family Services International (CFSI) assisted vulnerable individuals in the province secure certificate of live birth in security paper (SECPA) from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Through its Marawi Covid Recovery Project (MCRP), CFSI provided 3,172 individuals with SECPA copies of their birth certificates as of October 2022. These individuals are residents of the project's covered barangays in Marawi City and the municipalities of Ditsaan-ramain, Marantao, Piagapo, Butig, Lumbayanague and Masiu.

"The SECPA birth certificates were used by the recipients to avail of government services and programs," said Project Coordinator Farida Mangcaan.

She emphasized that because of the SECPA birth certificates households were assured of their children's enrollment in school, elderlies and PWDs were able to apply for social pension and stipend programs, respectively, while the sick have availed of free Malasakit services of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center.

Among the recipients is farmer Madrigal Amerol and his family of seven from the Ditsaan-Ramain town. He is thankful because they were able to get SECPA birth certificates which they used for Pantawid Pamilya enrollment.

Meanwhile, Mangcaan said they would continue with the support until all the 3,800 target individuals are served.

The MCRP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It has three components, namely, livelihood, protection, and psychosocial.

The facilitation of birth registration is part of the protection component which aims to ensure that persons uprooted by the Marawi siege and the early impact of the pandemic can fully exercise their rights without fear of retribution. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

MCRP livelihood projects improve conditions of IDPs, Lanao Sur towns

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Marawi Covid Recovery Project (MCRP) of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) was reported to have uplifted the socio-economic conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Marawi and other vulnerable population in the province.

MCRP Project Coordinator Farida Mangcaan said 3,071 out of the 4,000 target households were already provided with livelihood support under the livelihood component of the project. 

She said the support is a mix of urban-based livelihood for households previously served by the Marawi Recovery Project including locally stranded individuals and the community-based support to livelihood (CBSL) in the municipalities of Ditsaan-ramain, Marantao, Piagapo, Butig, Lumbayanague and Masiu.

Mangcaan said that through CFSI's project monitoring and evaluation as well as home visits they found out that most of the livelihoods were able to survive and thrive amidst the challenges brought about by the pandemic and the IDPs' prolonged stay in transitory shelters.

She further said that some were able to adapt by expanding their livelihood out of their sales, out of their gains in farming, or diversifying their operations and doing other income-generating activities.

"For the 24 CBSL projects, na improve yung mga pinakamahirap na parte ng kanilang mga kalsada o daanan kung saan nakafacilitate to transport yung kanilang farm produce, nagkaroon ng access ang mga service providers, at mas napalakas yung kanilang social cohesion o yung kanilang pakikiisa bilang isang komunidad," she said.

[For the 24 CBSL projects, it improved the most difficult parts of their roads or paths facilitating the transport of farm produce, the access of service providers, and social cohesion or solidarity as a community.]

Mangcaan also disclosed that community project participants become aware of the importance of Bayanihan and demonstrate a participative attitude towards activities aiming for the progress of their respective sectors.

Meanwhile, Bay-Rama Farmers’ Association President Musa Maruhom Tambilawan affirmed that his group received farming equipment from CFSI which helped reduced their land preparation time and increased their productivity and income.

"Noong wala pa ang mga equipment, two to three months yung land preparation pero ngayon naging two to three days nalang [when the equipment was not there, the land preparation took two to three months, but now it's only two to three days], he said.

The MCRP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

The Community and Family Services International holds a photo gallery exhibit of the 24 Community-Based Support to Livelihood projects in the municipalities of Ditsaan-ramain, Marantao, Piagapo, Butig, Lumbayanague and Masiu. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

CFSI makes life of Butig village easier with new ‘bridge of hope’

Brgy. Samer in Butig, Lanao del Sur has now a new hanging bridge which they call the bridge of hope. This project is made possible through the Marawi COVID Recovery Project (MCRP) of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) with the funding of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-Australia. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--An eased living has just been made possible for the residents in Brgy. Samer in the municipality of Butig, this province, as they were gifted with a new network that connects two areas separated by a wide river.

Thanks to the non-government organization Community and Family Services International (CFSI) through the funds of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian government and the implementation of the Marawi COVID Recovery Project (MCRP) for the construction of a new hanging bridge that is now dubbed by the locals as the 'bridge of hope.'

Samer Barangay Chairman Mangontawar Amatonding Jr. stressed that this project would be beyond beneficial to them as this would allow them to spend their resources efficiently.

“Itong proyekto na ito ang magsisilbing tulay ng pag-asa ng mga magsasaka kasi ito ay magsesave sa kanila ng pera at oras,” he said

[This project will serve as the bridge of hope for the farmers because this will make them save their money and time.]

Amatonding detailed that before the existence of their hanging bridge, products from the other side would still have to be transported by horses that needed to cross at least two rivers, a means that entailed expensive payment and the chance to get wet if the rivers would get wider due to inevitable circumstances.

He stated that this was where their concern was coming from, with them fervently looking forward to the time that they might already deliver their products faster and safer.

As such, Amatonding expressed his delight to the benefactors for alleviating their struggles as he also mentioned the great effort they exerted to ensure the completion of their desired project.

“Ginawa namin ang makakaya namin. Malaking pera at effort talaga ang ginugol dito. Nagpapasalamat kami kasi may bago na kaming tulay na maghahatid sa aming mga kabuhayan. Ito ay magiging daanan na mismo ng mga sibilyan at magsasaka. Maraming salamat sa CFSI at DFAT-Australia sa kanilang tiwala na tatapusin ang proyekto,” he said.

[We did our best. A big amount of money and effort were put into this. We are thankful because we have a new bridge that will lead us to our livelihood. This will be the path for the civilians and farmers. Thank you so much to CFSI and DFAT-Australia for the trust that this project would be completed.]

Seeing their hanging bridge as a significant advantage, the barangay chairman likewise urged his constituents to take care of the given project so that they might be able to use it for a longer period and would benefit even the future generation. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

Butig town manifests ‘progressive’ transition from terrorism to tourism

Butig Municipal Mayor Atty. Dimnatang Pansar shares their vision of transforming his locality into an agro-tourism municipality as they live out the slogan 'Terrorism to Tourism'. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The municipality of Butig in the province of Lanao del Sur is a living manifestation that truly, a locality that has been formerly known as a center of armed conflict can position itself in a better and wholesome scenario as it transitions from terrorism to tourism.

Municipal Mayor Lawyer Dimnatang Pansar shared that before the inception of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), his town was indeed tagged as chaotic and a haven of violent extremists. However, with the establishment of the Bangsamoro government, he stated that his place has attained a peaceful environment now.

Intending to sustain this good news, Pansar underscored that they are doing their best to pave the way for genuine development through exerting their own share of efforts to complement the programs granted by their partners such as the regional and provincial government, and the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), a non-government organization that has been extending community-based support to livelihood projects.

“Butig is big and may [has] potential so isa sa [one of the] major thrusts ng [of the] municipal government is to promote tourism not only in the part of Lanao del Sur but in the entire BARMM. With the support of the provincial, BARMM and national government, and through our sincere efforts with all our partners and the communities themselves, we are very optimistic na makakamit namin ito [that we will achieve this] in the very near future,” he said.

Pansar bared that he envisioned Butig town to be an agro-ecotourism municipality wherein agriculture and tourism are both highlighted without sacrificing the wellness of the environment.

He detailed that part of their tourism program is the rehabilitation of the road leading toward the lake in Brgy. Pinondolonan to promote it as one of the major tourist destinations through the support of the Ministry of Public Works of the BARMM government with funds from its Tourism and Development Program.

Further, the renovation of Sumpit Butig Nature’s View is underway alongside the construction of Peace Resort which would be founded in a remarkable area as this was where the Maute group started to grow and where the tomb of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Founding Chairman Sheikh Salamat Hashim and Vice Chairman Alim Abdul Aziz Mimbantas can be sighted, two gentlemen who are hoped to be hailed soon as Moro heroes.

Aside from these, Pansar likewise flaunted the wonderful mountains of his town, like Mt. Makaturing, which is noted as one of the tallest mountains in the country, and Mt. Pagayawan which is dubbed as a sleeping lady mountain because of its uncanny resemblance to a sleeping lady.

He added that his municipality holds a lot of magnificent waterfalls while more infrastructures are also set to rise, including a torogan which may be converted into a multi-purpose center, and a function hall that can be made as a training center.

With all the wonderful sites situated at the heart of their place, Pansar dearly invited citizens, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, to spare some time to visit Butig town to see for themselves the progress that they are living.

“We can say proudly na [that] Butig is one of the peaceful towns in BARMM,” he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

CFSI eager to maintain peacebuilding, protection efforts in Butig

The Butig town in Lanao del Sur province is always sighted by the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) to be one of the benefitting towns of its projects as this place is recognized to be one of those seriously impacted by the armed conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur

Continuously heeding to the call for sustainable support for the town that has notably experienced armed conflict and global health crisis, the non-government organization Community and Family Services International (CFSI) is determined to carry on its mission of reaching out to grassroots communities, especially in the municipality of Butig in Lanao del Sur to maintain their undertakings inclined towards peacemaking.

CFSI Head of Office Farida Mangcaan stressed that as her organization has been doing peacebuilding, they strive to support the initiatives of the government and other actors during emergency situations to help in the recovery and reconstruction of the affected areas, and steer them back towards development.

She underscored that they have always included Butig town as one of their beneficiaries as this has been recognized as one of the major communities impacted by the protracted displacement.

Mangcaan marked the place as historical and symbolic, and where usually the armed conflict would be ignited, causing a lot of people to be displaced and the investments toward human and economic development to diminished.

She expressed that the whole of what they are advocating is both a humanitarian and protection response, and helping the government to bounce back together with the people themselves.

“Nakakabalik kami sa [We return to] Butig because it is part of the protection work. Ito ay para muli ay makarecover sila from the impact na mayroon ang [this is for them to recover from impact of] displacement,” said Mangcaan.

Part of this effort is the recent turnover of community-based support to livelihood projects Tuesday, November 15, under the Marawi COVID Recovery Project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian government with four remote villages in Butig town as the recipients, namely, Pindolonan, Samer, Malungun and Butig Proper.

Following the handover of these aids, Mangcaan bared that they will be venturing into collaborative works with their partners such as the municipal government unit, extension services of the Mindanao State University (MSU), Lanao del Sur Provincial Cooperative Office, and Cooperative and Social Enterprise of the Bangsamoro region, among others.

Such stakeholders will accordingly help the organization in capacitating and enhancing the abilities of the farmers and other project recipients who are persons with special needs for them to be able to appropriately operate their requested projects and maintain them as well.

Mangcaan further disclosed that they intend to link their beneficiaries to other opportunities for livelihood and other economic growth as they would be integrated into the lined-up projects of the government, particularly the local development priorities of the concerned local government unit.

She also revealed that aside from the DFAT-Australia, they are currently partnering with the Spanish Cooperation Agency to intensify their aim for livelihood and employment to be enjoyed by other prospective participants coming from the same town.

Mangcaan conveyed that they are fully aware of the love of the locals for Butig town, and with the organization witnessing the rendered perseverance to keep their peace-loving communities, the CFSI committed to continue their support as everyone journeys towards the recovery and reconstruction of their place and respective lives.

“Kasama niyo kami para muling bumangon muli sa years and years na impact ng armed conflict at lalo na ng pandemya,” she said.

[We are with you as you get back on your feet again after years and years of impact of armed conflict and especially of the pandemic. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

Butig town folks thankful for community projects

Some guests during the turnover of community projects to support the livelihood activities of four villages in Butig town inspect the hanging bridge project for Barangay Samer. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

Folks from four villages in the municipality of Butig are thankful for the aid poured into their communities.

This, after the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) turned over Tuesday, November 15, community projects to support the livelihood activities of the villagers. The projects consisted of one warehouse each for Barangays Pindolonan and Butig Proper, two solar dryers for Barangay Malungun, and a hanging bridge for Barangay Samer.

These barangays are among the areas where the Marawi COVID-19 Recovery Project (MCRP) of CFSI is implemented. The projects are part of the community-based support to livelihood (CBSL) component of the MCRP that aims to improve the livelihood and resilience of communities affected by protracted displacements and the COVID-19 pandemic.

MCRP is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) but the target barangays also provided counterparts in the implementation of the CBSL projects such as additional manpower and resources for the construction.

Malungun Punong Barangay Bacarat Casimra conveyed his thanks for the two solar dryers their barangay got from the MCRP adding that the project will benefit farmers in his village since Malungun is a producer of palay and corn in Butig.

He said children can also use the area as a playground when the drying of the harvest is completed.

Samer Punong Barangay Mangontawar Amatonding Jr. also thanked CFSI, DFAT Australia, and LGU Butig for the hanging bridge project. He said, previously, villages used a zipline track to transport their produce to the other side of the barangay posing a risk to the farm products during wet weather.'

The hanging bridge, he said, will not only improve access but ensure easier transport of farm products. "Babaguhin nito ang kabuhayan sa Samer, lalakas ang development sa Samer," he said.

Amatonding also underscored the impact of the project on the promotion of peace in the village stating that unstable livelihood can contribute to conflict by forcing locals to resort to violence to obtain the necessary resources they need. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0

4 Butig villages benefit from CFSI's community-based projects

Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and the municipal government of Butig in Lanao del Sur lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Ompiya warehouse in Pindolonan village, a project completed under the Marawi Covid Recovery Project of CFSI to support the livelihood of village residents. Also present during the ceremony are the villages chiefs of Barangays Pindolonan, Butig Proper, Malungun, and Samer. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

Four villages in the municipality of Butig received community-based support to livelihood (CBSL) projects from the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).

The projects consisted of two warehouses for Barangays Pindolonan and Butig Proper, two solar dryers for Barangay Malungun, and a hanging bridge for Barangay Samer.

The projects were turned over by CFSI to the recipient barangays in a simple ceremony held Tuesday, Nov. 15, in Barangay Pindolonan. The ceremony was witnessed by Butig mayor Dimnatang Pansar and the Project Steering Committee of each barangay.

The CBSL projects were implemented under the Marawi Covid Recovery Project (MCRP) of CFSI which aims to promote the protection, psychosocial, and economic recovery of at least 4,000 families or 20,000 individuals in Marawi City and six other municipalities in Lanao del Sur from the impact of displacement and the Covid-19 pandemic.

CBSL projects have previously been turned over to target barangays in the municipalities of Lumbayanague, Marantao, and Piagapo.

MCRP Project Coordinator Farida Mangcaan said they identified Butig as one of the target municipalities for the project since it is one of the areas in Lanao del Sur that was affected by protracted displacement.

"It is where usually the armed conflict is being ignited and, most significantly, a lot of people have been displaced in Butig. With that nadidiminish yung mga investments towards human development and economic development," she said

She said that her organization which focuses on peacebuilding has been aiding the municipality as part of its humanitarian response and protection works.

"At the same time, helping the government to bounce back together with the people themselves para maibalik yung kanilang dignidad, para maibalik yung kanilang self-help initiatives, at para muli ay makarecover sila from the impact na meron yung ating mga protracted displacement," she added.

[At the same time, helping the government to bounce back together with the people themselves to restore their dignity, to restore their self-help initiatives so that they can recover from the impact of protracted prolonged displacement.]

Butig Mayor Dimnatang Pansar expressed gratitude to CFSI and DFAT Australia for the projects implemented in his municipality saying that these projects address the specific needs of the target community.

He also recognized the efforts and contribution of the four barangay local government units in the successful completion of the projects.

The mayor further disclosed that there are also infrastructure projects being undertaken by the municipal government to complement projects coming from the BARMM government, the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, and non-government organizations like CFSI. Among these are several road projects that will enhance transport accessibility leading to more opportunities and better lives for Butig residents.

Pansar is optimistic that through continuing efforts of the government and non-government organizations, the municipality will soon become prosperous contrary to its image of being a poor and dangerous place.

The MCRP is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will be completed by June 2023 (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

0