LANAO DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 3, 2012) – The Islamic Development Bank has donated relief support worth some of USD $100,000 for the victims of deadly storm that devastated the southern Filipino cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
Dr. Potri Disomimba-Ali, president of the Tamparan Medical Foundation, welcomed the IDB relief team headed by Abdo Mohamad Al Taki and Mohamed Amer El-Sayed who arrived recently in the Philippines.
Tamparan Medical Foundation Inc. is the local implementing foundation partner of the IDB in the Philippines.The group visited Tamparan in Lanao del Sur province, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities in northern Mindanao, to fulfil their mission by providing relief support and distribute directly to the typhoon victims.
The IDB management approved the donation to be used in the purchased of Information Technology gadgets and electrical items worth some $40,000 that items were delivered to the Moneerah Integrated School; and $30,000 worth of school uniforms, shoes, socks, school supplies and bags for students of the madaris and elementary schools of Mandulog, Cabaro and Balulang; and another $30,000 was used to purchase for infant clothes, feeding bottles, milk, infant cereals and vitamins for one month supplement including lactating mothers in the indentified areas.
The items were distributed directly to the identified victims of the typhoon and also benefited school children, infants and mothers, which is the most vulnerable sectors of the society and demand special attention and care.
The madaris, school children, parents and teachers and villagers and their officials praised the IDB and the Tamparan Medical Foundation, for the donations which were badly needed in the areas and requesting for more support from the IDB in the future.
The team also visited the existing IDB-funded hospital – the Tamparan Medical Foundation Hospital – which caters to 11 municipalities with has a total population of around 313,000.
The hospital still needs more medical equipment and facilities to respond to the growing health demands of poor residents, particularly those living in far-flung areas and have no access to health care and other medical services.
Potable water system is also needed in Lanao del Sur province.
Abdo Mohamad Al-Taki, the IDB relief officer, said the distribution was just their initial assistance and the IDB has approved some $15 million for the Philippines to help in alleviating poverty and developing human capital and facilitating sustainable socio-economic benefits in the country in order to improve quality of life for Muslim communities.
“We are so grateful to IDB and its mission team for their valuable support and humanitarian assistanceto our people. We shall be forever greatful,” Dr. Potri Disomimba-Ali said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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