Eastcoast Adventist Church Mercedes, Zamboanga City Email/FB: ecachurch@yahoo ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PARTIAL REPORT ON ATTACK OF MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (MNLF) FORCES IN ZAMBOANGA CITY By: Duke Ramirez, As of September 17 @ 9AM The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forces staged a siege in Zamboanga City, Region IX on September 9, 2013 in an attempt to raise its flag at the City Hall in response to the declaration of Independence as Bangsamoro Republic by its leader Nur Misuari. The armed conflict continues up to the present September 17, 2013 (Day 9), and ongoing. The armed conflict already wreaked havoc to the lives of our people, loss of lives of hostages and civilians, damages to properties, and disruption of the city’s economy (e.g. cancellation of flights, suspension of shipping services; closure of markets/department stores/pharmacies/retail shops, banks, pawnshops, canning factories; gasoline stations, water refilling stations; suspension of classes in all levels; limited public transportation, food shortage, among others). Zamboanga City proper became like a “ghost town” with curfew being imposed city-wide, from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. As of September 16 (Monday @ 2PM), more than 13,023 families (67,845 individuals) are displaced and evacuated from the six (6) affected barangays within 7- kilometer radius from City hall. These barangays are: Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina, Talon-Talon, Mampang, Tugbungan. A forced evacuation order was issued on September 13 (Friday) by the Zamboanga City Council upon recommendation of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC), chaired by Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar (Liberal Party). Air strikes were conducted on Day 7 with the hope of ending the siege as promised by Mayor Climaco by declaring “Let us Finish it Today!” As a result, casualties from both sides increased. As reported, the PNP yielded 6 police officers killed in action (KIA) with 56 wounded. AFP soldiers had 2 KIAs with 28 wounded. From the civilians, 3 were killed while 28 were wounded. On the other side, 51 MNLF rebels were arrested and more than 20 were killed. Some of the MNLF rebels were women who allegedly served as snipers. Unfortunately, it was not confirmed that its leader, Commander Habier Malik, was among those captured nor killed. Close to 500 houses were razed to the ground as a result of the exchange of gun fire between the MNLF and government forces. More than 200 hostages were taken on Day 1; some were able to escape from their captors while others were released. Only today (September 17 @ 6AM), about 64 hostages were rescued and brought to Camp General Batalla at RT Lim Boulevard. A total of 27 evacuation centers were established outside of the danger zones. The main evacuation center is the J.F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (Grandstand) which accommodates a total of 50,343 individuals while about 1,565 evacuees set-up their makeshift tents outside of the Grandstand, just along the shoreline. Samal and Badjao families (Indigenous Peoples) who evacuated from Rio Hondo-Mariki preferred to stay on their vintas along the coast of Cawa-Cawa RT Lim Boulevard, near the Grandstand. Government facilities are not spared by the crisis. One of the most affected is the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) and its patients. It may be recalled that just recently on August 28, 2013, President Aquino signed Republic Act 10613 increasing the hospital bed of Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) from 250 to 500 beds. Moreover, P1.6 billion worth of hospital modernization projects (e.g. purchase of MRI hospital equipment, among others) have been implemented to improve its health delivery services. However, due to the escalating armed conflict, by September 10, 2013 the ZCMC was forced to close and evacuated its patients to other hospitals outside of the conflict area. Dr. Romeo Ong, Chief of Hospital, reported that a total of 472 patients of ZCMC were affected. ZCMC established a satellite hospital in the gymnasium of Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) to continue its health service delivery. Most patients were transferred to Mindanao Central Sanitarium and General Hospital in Pasobolong barangay. Other patients on ICU were transferred to private hospitals. A great concern during Day 6 was a raging fire (along Sta. Catalina) almost near the fence of the ZCMC where the powerhouse is located. Fortunately, the fire was contained. Offices/schools/properties within the conflict areas are the following: Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST), National Museum, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), National Statistics Office (NSO), Southern City Colleges (private school). These offices/schools were closed since Day 1 (September 9). Various volunteer organizations, religious groups especially the Adventist Community Services of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (ACS-SDA) and nearby local government units (LGUs) mobilized their resources to assist the city government in providing support for the needs and requirements of the evacuation centers. Governor Wilter Palma (Liberal Party) provided eight (8) transportation vehicles to ferry 326 evacuees from the conflict areas to Zamboanga Sibugay. Mayor Eldwin Alibutdan (NP) of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay likewise donated food supplies and relief goods for the evacuees in Zamboanga city. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM- HEART) likewise extended relief operations. On September 9 and 14 (Monday and Saturday), a meeting was called among SDA churches in Zamboanga City to respond to the prevailing crisis as part of ACS outreach program. Pastor Michael Capapas, District Pastor, organized the volunteers by creating committees to assist in the preparation of food and sorting of relief goods for distribution to the evacuees in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). More than 100 volunteers took part in the volunteer work. Relatedly, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), South Philippine Union Conference of the Philippines (SPUC), and Zamboanga Peninsula Mission (ZPM) are at the helm of extending support and assistance both in cash and in relief items for the severely affected evacuees, including SDA members affected by the crisis. A joint DSWD-Office of Civil Defense cluster meeting was called on September 16, 2013 @ 2:00 PM at the DSWD Operation Center near the Grandstand. The meeting was presided by ASec. Camilo Gudmalin and attended by DILG, PIA, DPWH, DOH, and NEDA. Secretary Dinky Soleman was present but did not attend the meeting due to other pressing concerns. The meeting was called to discuss measures to address the Health and Security and Order concerns in the evacuation centers. Among the concerns include: 1) evacuees who are pregnant deliver their babies in tents without notifying nor seeking assistance; 2) mortality of elderly increases; 3) air and water-borne diseases are imminent; 4) declining supplies (e.g. firewood, food). DOH was requested to augment its staff complement to go around tents to assess the health needs of the evacuees. DILG will gather and organize the barangay leaders/officials to maintain order during supplies distribution; DPWH to continue to provide transportation and logistics support; PIA to conduct advocacy and information dissemination; OCD assisted by DSWD and NEDA will conduct post disaster needs assessment. The Regional Development Council (RDC) IX, which is the highest policy making body of Region IX, will conduct a post-conflict meeting on September 25, 2013 in Zamboanga City to discuss, facilitate and converge rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts among member agencies. A rehabilitation plan shall be formulated giving impetus on the prioritization of programs and projects of agencies for the recovery of Zamboanga city and the affected residents. The armed conflict disrupted the daily living of subsistence residents. With the closure of canning factories, hundreds of workers are displaced and affected. Daily wage workers/contractual workers lost their meager income due to “no work, no pay” policy. In three (3) months time, a closed fishing season will be imposed (from December 1 to March 1) which will again affect the income of workers. Aside from these workers, other workers who depend on daily jobs to earn money to feed their families are likewise affected such as the more than 6,000 tricycle drivers and operators, contractual employees of department stores and other establishments, market vendors, public transport operators, among others. The suspension of air and sea transport services affected many sectors. Passengers were stranded, cargoes were stalled, exportation of goods and products were discontinued. This likewise affected the economy of nearby cities and towns whose economic activities depend on inputs from Zamboanga city. A more detailed report highlighting the approximate costs of damages and implications to the regional economy as a result of this armed conflict will be drafted once data and information are available. We earnestly pray for the immediate end of this crisis and move on for the recovery and rehabilitation of Zamboanga City, in particular, and Zamboanga Peninsula, in general! DUKE RAMIREZ Volunteer, Communications Eastcoast Adventist Church
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:41:11 +0000
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