It's all systems go as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mobilized today all national government agencies to lead in providing assistance to evacuees who were displaced by the abuses and other forms of atrocities by the lawless elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza said the President issued the directive this afternoon during the National Security Council (NSC) Cabinet Group meeting in Malacanang.
Dureza said the President named Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to head the distribution of relief assistance directly to the families affected.
"Probably more funds will be downloaded. The President had called on everyone, especially the national government to pitch in," Dureza told reporters in his regular conference at the New Executive Building briefing room
Dureza said that the funds for the rehabilitation and other forms of assistance to the thousands of evacuees in Mindanao would be sourced out from the budget of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
During the meeting, Dureza said that the President had ordered NDCC Executive Director Glenn Rabonza "to hit the ground more intensively now because there is a growing number of residents who may need immediate assistance at this point in time."
But when asked the exact amount of the funding, Dureza said that there is no bulk figure but the amount is necessary to address the situation.
He also said the President thanked the donor community which offered help and other humanitarian assistance to those who are adversely affected by the military and police drives to capture the renegade MILF groups responsible in the treacherous attacks in Lanao del Norte, Saranggani and Iligan City.
Dureza added that the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) is also tasked to collate all these efforts and is now coordinating with the donor community.