MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The Plan International Philippines alongside its partner United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been providing livelihood opportunities for women in the province of Lanao del Sur with the implementation of the Marawi Response Project (MRP).
With the initiative approaching its conclusion this year, women beneficiaries honored the enforcing international development and humanitarian organizations, seeing this as a stirring moment to go on and sustain their survival in their respective communities.
Shaiba Dimaocom, an internally displaced person (IDP) impacted by the firefight in Marawi City in 2017, highlighted how the MRP injected her with hope for a new start.
She stated that the project delivered her training and business start-up which uplifted their lives as siege victims, and made them realize that they could still live normal lives without discrimination.
Further, Dimaocom stated that their day-to-day living was financially assisted as they get income from their new livelihood.
“Our lives today have a huge difference compared to before na walang [wherein there was no] MRP… Dahil sa grants na naipagkaloob sa amin ng MRP, natustusan ang ibang pangangailangan ng aming pamilya [Because of the grants given to us by the MRP, we are able to support other needs of our family],” she said.
Meanwhile, Rohaina Datumanong who was also displaced due to the same warfare conveyed how thankful she is to Plan International and USAID for she was aided in terms of livelihood being a single mother.
As such, she committed to striving to maintain the efforts extended to them.
“Sila ang nagsisilbing gabay sa amin para sa aming mga kababaihan… Gusto kong manatili ang aming livelihood sapagkat marami ang naitulong nito,” said Datumanong.
[They served as our guide for us women… I want our livelihood to remain because this has helped us a lot.] (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
