Thousands Attend Serviamus Assembly In Mindanao; Army Brigadier Seeks Help For Refugees

The Serviamus Foundation is headed by Bishop Elenito Galido of the Diocese of Iligan City and Norma Gejon, the President and Executive Director. Also in the photo is Army Col. Benito de Leon.

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 1, 2008) – Some 3,000 people gathered in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province in the southern Philippines for the 11th General Assembly of the Serviamus Foundation Inc.

The weekend assembly, held at the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, was successful with Serviamus vowing to continue its micro-financing programs to uplift and strengthen socio-economic condition of poor households in Mindanao through a quality innovative financial and other development services.

The foundation is headed by Bishop Elenito Galido of the Diocese of Iligan City and Norma Gejon, the President and Executive Director. The assembly highlighted the various local products from the Small Enterprise Development Program Project. Government and military officials and

Col. Benito de Leon, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, asked the Serviamus Foundation Inc., to also help the internally displaced persons (IDPS), particularly the Muslims, as a result of the August 18 attacks by Moro rebels in Lanao del Norte province.

In his speech before the assembly, De Leon said his soldiers are now also much involved in the return, resettlement, and reintegration of the IDPs in the province consistent with the International Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as the implementing instructions of government leaders.

He noted, however, that many of the IDPs have lost the drive and the capacity to recover economically. He suggested a similar Small Enterprise Development Program be made by Serviamus to also benefit the IDPs.

“In being able to also extend your service to the IDPs, especially to the Muslims, this Foundation would have demonstrated firmly its full transformation from being church-based into a true NGO,” he said. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)