NCMF News:
By EDD K. USMAN & DR. DIMAPUNO A. DATU-RAMOS, JR., Director, NCMF- Bureau of External Relations
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-dDq
(SDN) — Arguably, there’s no province in the Philippines where there are no Muslims, especially from the two Lanao provinces.
If there’s migration from Luzon and the Visayas to Mindanao, the reverse is also true, migration of Mindanao sons and daughters to either Luzon and the Visayas.
The migration to Southern Philippines started and peaked at the time of President Ramon Magsaysay; the migration from Mindanao was prompted by the over 40 years war for independence the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) waged in the early 70’s, followed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Remember, too, that Manila was once a Moro settlement at the time of the brutal Spanish colonization. Affinity!
Wonder no more that Moros of Mindanao found refuge in Northern Philippines as they sought to rebuild their lives.
And so it goes that Muslims are now all over the country, establishing communities as the host local government units (LGUs), their officials, and residents have been generally welcoming.
One example is Ilocos Sur province covered by North Luzon region where Muslims have built and are building communities.
Looking after the welfare and wellbeing of these Moro enclaves is the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) presently headed by Secretary Saidamen Balt Pangarungan.
The recent onslaught of Typhoon “Maring” has hit hard the province, including Muslim communities. As its mandate, Pangarungan directed the NCMF-North Luzon headed by Regional Director Atty. Raihanah Sarah Macarimpas to bring relief assistance to the NCMF constituents “Maring” affected.
Approximately 188 Muslim Filipino families were severely affected by the massive flooding caused by the typhoon, which damaged their homes and also their livelihood — their goods and merchandizes.
Following the MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine guidelines of the region, the team, composed of Atty. Macarimpas, Administrative Services Director Abdullah Macarimpas, along with NCMF-North Luzon staff Atty. Nor-ainah Daragangan, Sitti Divina Roxas, Ompongaranao Guiling, Sheikh Acmad Pundogar, Ali Jefferson Beronio, Saadoding Muripaga had undergone mandatory Anti-gen Swab test on October 17.
Pangarungan assures continued response
The team first went to Candon City where 120 affected families received relief packs. They proceeded to Santa Maria which was the most affected and damaged area by “Maring”. Around 38 affected families received relief packs, and 40 children received snack packs.
The last stop was in the Municipality of Narvacan, where the team provided relief goods to the 30 affected families.
NCMF-North Luzon helmed by Regional Director Macarimpas has been all over the region attending to its constituents’ needs and concerns.
The Regional Director Macarimpas has not let the coronavirus pandemic prevent NCMF-North Luzon from responding to its constituents’ call for assistance.
Pangarungan assured the “NCMF will continue fulfilling its mandates, to include assistance to the communities, especially during these difficult times” through the NCMF Central Office in Quezon City and its various regional offices and provincial satellite offices.
The NCMF secretary and CEO also took time to sent out his thanks and gratitude to President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go for their support to the country’s nationwide Muslim Filipino community through the Commission.
Pangarungan also reiterated his support for the administration’s programs for Filipinos, especially Muslims. (✓)
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Featured image shows “Mating” damage goods owned by Muslim traders in Ilocos Sur.