Thursday, August 16, 2007

Water for peace and development

GLAN, Sarangani: Lack of water facilities used to be a major problem in Busok village for decades until Spain, New Zealand and Australia came to help.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-ACT (Action for Conflict Transformation) for Peace Programme and the provincial government turned over a spring development project to Busok constituents last Aug. 14.

The P300,000-project was funded by UNDP and implemented by Sarangani's Provincial Peace and Development Program.

"You must take care of this project and strengthen your BAWASA," Gov. Migs Dominguez told the beneficiaries.

BAWASA means Barangay Water Works and Sanitation Association.

"Someday it may be expanded to other sitios and even in adjacent barangays when you attain self-sufficiency," Dominguez explained.

The governor urged villagers to come up with minimal fees in order to become self-reliant instead of depending on the barangay council for the repair and maintenance of the water system.

The fund came in support of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement.

Engr. Jake Abdullah, UNDP technical assistant, said the water system was built under UNDP's ACT for Peace Programme, pooled from the governments of Spain, New Zealand and Australia.

The UNDP implements "peace-building" efforts through the local government and its partner organization, PDAL (Peace and Development Advocates League)-Sarangani.

A PDC is a community that has experienced conflict, is vulnerable to conflict and has high incidence of poverty.Constituents of PDCs undergo community organizing. They receive projects that address basic needs and undergo a "culture of peace" seminar.

These activities empower the constituents to become participative in barangay governance.

They were expected to engage in volunteerism, promote peace, and strive to attain self-reliance.
Other PDCs in the province with water system sponsored by UNDP include barangays Pangyan in this town, Tuyan in Malapatan, Daliao, Lumatil and Kanalo in Maasim town, Tambilil and Datu Dani in Kiamba municipality and Pinol in Maitum.

PDAL President Commander Johnny Akbar told the beneficiaries, "your only counterpart to this project is your effort to sustain it."

"You must understand that the help from other countries came here after the 1996 peace agreement," Akbar stressed."The project we have now is the 'fruit of sacrifice' of our Muslim brothers slain in combat during the times of conflict," he added. SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE