Respect is the key to peace

CEBU, Philippines - Bloodshed, burnt houses, displaced residents, cancelled classes, stranded passengers, and paralyzed economic activity, these are just few of the impacts of the recent armed conflict in Zamboanga City.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas announced last September 28 the end of fighting in Zamboanga; however, Jennifer Abastillas, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Disaster and Risk Reduction Management unit focal person, said its effects, especially on vulnerable groups, would still be there even when the guns had long been silenced.

"Gunfire can be very traumatic to the vulnerable groups, especially the children. It may not be visible now, but its effects are long-term, especially those directly affected by the conflict," said Abastillas, during the Sept. 28 episode of Pagtuki, the official radio program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) aired over radio dyLA every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The more than two weeks of gun battle between government troops and secessionist Muslim rebels displaced more than 100,000 people, who had to stay in a sports complex and evacuation centers as their temporary homes.

Abastillas mentioned the importance of letting those displaced residents go through psycho-social processing or debriefing to evaluate the effects of the conflict on each one so the government could come up with countermeasures to prevent further harm.

Lt. Jim Aris Alagao, Central Command public information officer, on the other hand, shared the importance of active public participation in keeping track of those affected by the conflict.

He said that Central Command has done its part by actively participating in missions of protecting innocent civilians and defending the flag and the state by sending Cebu troops.

Abastillas, on the other hand, also assured the public that the DSWD is always ready to support and assist those in need.

"We encourage the public to disclose any information if they know someone from Zambonga City who sought refuge here in Cebu in order for us to help them," Abastillas added.

Having lasting peace, though, is the best solution there is to prevent the people from being traumatized by war.

"We should go back to basic. Let us respect everyone regardless of religion," Alagao said.

Pagtuki, which is one of the knowledge sharing and advocacy capabilities of RAFI, tackles timely and relevant issues on community development, politics and governance, micro-financing, education, environment, early childhood care and development, and culture and heritage that affect the Cebuano community.

For more information about RAFI's radio program, please contact Roxanne Catalan at 418-7234 loc. 542, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. (FREEMAN)