EC donates 970T Euro to help Mindanao war-afflicted areas

DAVAO CITY, July 4 (PNA) – The European Commission (EC) donated 970,000 Euros or approximately P60 million for the Action Repair project of the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) during a Mindanao-wide peace gathering of lumads, Moros and Christians on Wednesday here.

MISF project coordinator Danilo Gumanao said Action Repair is a project of MISF to help the people in Mindanao affected by war conflicts.

Gumanao said the gathering theme was "Three Visions, One Direction," celebrated the achievements of Action Repair and discussed the existing problems in conflict-afflicted areas in Mindanao.

He said Action Repair is a 24-month capability-building project co-sponsored by the MISFI and the European Union delegated by the European Commission in Mindanao.

"The EC contributed a maximum of 88-89 percent of fund for the project while MISFI produced 11 percent,” he said.

The project was implemented in 39 communities in five regions in Mindanao, covering eight provinces, 14 municipalities, one city, and 26 barangays with a total number of 4,648 Moros, lumads and Christian families or an approximate of 28,392 individuals, he said.

Gumanao said three sets of farm machinery, potable water system, school buildings, solar dryers, farm hand tools, farm animals and farm inputs were also donated by MISF to five communities.

Capability building programs of conservation agriculture, agro-forestry, community barangay disaster management, and psychological therapy were also given to these communities, Gumanao said.

He said since the financial support of the European Commission has already ended, the organization is still looking for other partners to fund Action Repair next year.

European Commission Deputy Head of Contracts and Finance Section Johan Snijckers said although EC's fund has ended, the MISFI will still receive their support.