AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR AMANDA GORELY HANDS OVER ZAMBOANGA RECOVERY PROJECT HOUSING AND LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE TO BENEFICIARIES
Zamboanga City - Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely today led the ceremonial handover of housing and livelihood support to families affected by the 2013 Zamboanga crisis marking the completion of the Zamboanga Recovery Project.
The Australian Government provided PHP 102 million (AUD 3 million) grant for the Zamboanga Recovery Project, a three-year project that addressed the long-term needs for the poorest and most vulnerable families displaced by the crisis.
“I am pleased to spend today with the family beneficiaries of the Zamboanga Recovery Project. Australia is a true friend to Zamboanga. Five years on we remain committed to the recovery of this city, standing side by side with those affected by the armed conflict in 2013,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely said.
“We worked closely with the Philippine government in bringing assistance to Zamboanga, and I would like to thank the local government here for our strong partnership” Ambassador Gorely added.
The Zamboanga Recovery Project built permanent homes for 400 families, provided livelihood and psychosocial and protection assistance to 1,049 families; assisted 2,072 displaced persons to recover their birth certificates and other formal ID; supported host communities; and trained health workers to improve health and disease surveillance.
"As mayor of Zamboanga City, I am deeply thankful and grateful to the Australian Government thru Ambassador Gorely and other partners for their continuing support. The Zamboanga Recovery Project has truly changed the future of so many families who have been deeply affected by the conflict,” Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco.
The project developed resettlement communities in Barangays San Roque, Tulungatung, and Kasanyangan. New homes were also put up in other areas where families were able to find land to build on.
Children of those communities were also supported to return and remain in school. Six child development centres and 16 schools were refurbished benefiting 588 pre-school children and 40,924 students. The vulnerable Indigenous population were also supported – there are 106 Bajau enrolees in the Basic Literacy Program for Adults who are now able to read, write and do basic mathematics.
Ashran Rasman, whose family moved into their permanent house in Barangay Kasanyangan, said, “We are very happy because our families have a home of our own after three years of transferring from different evacuation centres and transitory sites. The livelihood assistance from the Zamboanga Recovery Project has given us a stable source of income. I can provide for our daily needs and help my siblings financially. I have developed skills through the training provided by the project and it has improved our lives.”
The Zamboanga Recovery Project was implemented by a network of partners and stakeholders: Community and Family Services International in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services, the World Health Organization; the Zamboanga City Government; National Housing Authority, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga City; National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Philippine Statistic Authority, Department of Education and other partners. ###
Links to remarks:
- Ceremonial Handover of Zamboanga Recovery Project to Beneficiaries
- Visit to the Zamboanga Central School and Special Education Centre