Army division chief reaches out to Maguindanao's orphans of war

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 13): Army division chief reaches out to Maguindanao's orphans of war

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- With peace prevailing in its area of jurisdiction, the Army's 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division, led by Brigadier General Arnel B. Dela Vega, 6th ID Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board, Goldin Institute Philippines (GIP) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), launched over the weekend its Peace and Development Program in a remote village in Maguindanao.

The program, dubbed as Project "Kagkapia" (Hope), was launched with the support of Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman through the Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) and Dr. Susana Anayatin of GIP, aims to extend help and psychological intervention to orphans of Markaz-ul Aytam Orphanage Center in Barangay Gang, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, 6th ID Public Affairs Office chief, said "Project "KAGKAPIA" or Hope," benefited 280 children who are orphans of war due to the conflict in the region.

Most of these children, with ages ranging from 8 to 22 years old, came from conflict-affected areas in the five provinces of ARMM: Maguindanao; Lanao Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.

The peace and development project includes activities such as the distribution of sports equipment, slippers, hygiene and sanitary kits, food supplies and the feeding program, Capt. Encinas said.

Physical enhancement of the orphanage's facilities through repair and renovation to be facilitated by the 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion with construction materials provided by the regional governor, Hon. Mojiv S. Hataman, shall also be undertaken to uplift the living conditions of the orphans.

"The objectives of Project "KAGKAPIA" aims to make the orphans feel that the government and other sectors of the society care for them and guide them to have high hopes for their future," Encinas added.

Convergence of efforts among various stakeholders for the project is also sought by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to realize the whole of nation approach in achieving lasting peace and development.

"Orphans of war, if not properly taken cared of, can be potential source of recruits by bad elements or even terrorists/extremists hence, project "KAGKAPIA" is 6ID's tool to insulate the children from their influence," said Brig. Gen. Dela Vega.

The Markaz-ul Aytam Orphanage Center is administered by Ustadz Hasan Maloon relying only from voluntary contributions from benevolent sources.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=963425