Dureza told: Help 84000 refugees return home

About 84,000 refugees, or internally-displaced persons (IDP), continue to stay in 56 evacuation centers in Mindanao, most of them from Maguindanao and other war-torn areas where government troops are battling various insurgent or secessionist forces as well as bandits. This was reported on Tuesday by Mindanao Development Authority chairman and Presidential assistant for Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza during a cabinet meeting in Malacañang. In the meeting, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed Dureza to ensure the IDPs’ immediate return to their communities, to provide them help in normalizing their lives. Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo told him to create a group that would coordinate efforts of national agencies, local governments, and humanitarian groups to help the IDPs. He added that the President also asked him to lead in developing a framework and action plan for the IDPs. The Departments of Education and Labor and Employment , and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority were also tasked to help IDPs in accessing education, employment and livelihood opportunities, according to Rogelio Peyuan, Press undersecretary and Deputy Presidential Spokesman. “We just want to ensure that in the remaining 50 days of the Arroyo administration, the government can help these IDPs... even if we are going through the process of campaigns and elections, we will not deviate from our main concern, which is the peace process," Peyuan added.—JV, GMANews.TV