Rescue, assistance center v.2.0 launched in Marawi

By Teng Lauban Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief .

MARAWI CITY — The Peace Implementing Panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reactivated the Joint Coordination, Monitoring and Assistance Center (JCMAC), which was a key mechanism in rescuing hundreds of hostages at the height of the armed conflict in this city last year.

The new mandate of the JCMAC is to establish a neutral platform and a mechanism for the people of Marawi City and the Lanao areas to raise their concerns to the government and participate in the efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild Marawi City and the Lanao areas.

“We came out with the new version of JCMAC to act as a sounding board for the people affected in the crisis and to help them recover,” Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Undersecretary Nabil Tan said during the formal relaunching of the JCMAC inside the Dimaporo Gym at the compound of the Mindanao State University (MSU).

The JCMAC Version 2.0 (V2.0) headquarters will be located inside the MSU compound.

Tan, however, made it clear that the JCMAC is not a replacement of the ongoing efforts of the government in restoring normalcy in Marawi City.

The government and the MILF signed an agreement reactivating the JCMAC during a meeting early last month following the presentation of the Bangsa-moro Organic Law in Cotabato City.

Recalling the achievement of the first JCMAC, Tan highlighted the efforts of those who contributed in its successful implementation, particularly members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MILF.

“The JCMAC has given us proud moments. Without the close coordination with the army and MILF, our work would have been very difficult,” he said. (with reports from opapp)