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WFP is a month away from begining its food distribution in Mindanao. WFP has returned to the Philippines to begin an emergency operation taht will feed 2.1 million people in Mindanao in support of the peace process. The operation will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1 (March-May 2006) consists of setting up offices, conducting key assessments to fine-tune targetting, establishing logistics networks, partnering with non-govermental organizations, and launching a communication strategy for beneficciaries.

Phase 2 involves distribution of food to beneficiaries and linking with existing projects in the region to enhance development.

Programming Updates
Operations are currently resourced with enough food until the end of September this is largely because the first three months are at a reduced scale for cooperating partners to pilot test implementation.

The programme overall is under-resourced, with just 11% of the US$ 27.2 million needed ntil February next year. WFP is in contact with carious goverment and private sector donors
to finance the operation. Currently,
the Mindanao operation has received
US$ 3.1 million from Australia
($1.5 Million), Japan ($1.2 Million)
and Sweden ($0.7million).

Food Pipeline Logistics
Logistics has been very busy, with shipments already on theirway! Current arrivals booked are:
  - 540 metric tons CSB on 10 June
  - 100 metric tons rice 17 June
  - 900 metric tons rice on 21 June

Port is ready: we are now ready to receive international cargo in port following the signing of an agreemtn with the Regional Port Authority of ARMM for use of Polloc Port. The CO is working with the GRP to get customs clearances and tariff exemptions for the food.

Storage and Transport: Strong local goverment commitment is being shown by provincial officials, who have offered free warehouses and trucks. Goverments at all levels are assuring security food deliveries.

June 2006
World Food Programme Updates
Pilot Phase almost ready to begin: In the first three months of the operation WFP aims to feed half a million people. A Communication strategy will be launcehd mid june to raise awareness with beneficiaries of the food assistance they should receive under the operation.

Cooperating Partners:
WFP has been finalising arrangements with its cooperation partners (CP's) who will be implementing our projects in the five targeted provinces. Pilot arrangements for the first three months are in place, with:
   * Communtiy & Family Services International (CFSI) in Maguindanao
   * German Tech Coup Agency (GTZ) in Lanao del Norte & Sultan Kudarat
   * Philippines Business for Social Progress(PBSP) Lanao del Sur
   * DSWD/ Local Goverment Units in North Cotabato

Signing Ceremony:
A signing ceremony will be held on 7 June in Davao. The WFP-DSWD
( Department of Social Welfare and Development ) partnership will be marked with a letter of Understanding, and field level arrangements will be signed between WFP, DSWD, and cooperating partner.

Nutrition and Food Security Survey:
An agreement was signed by WFP, UNICEF and the Goverment's Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) on 19 May to conduct a baseline survey in the five provinces. The survey will commence in June to assess households food security and nutritional levels of children and mothers.

Cooking up a storm:
Recipes for the corn soya blend (CSB) have collected to be pilot tested with different target groups ( including school children, pregnant and lactating women, and children under two) prior to the programme implementation.

Strong local goverment support:
WFP has been consulting wiht the five Provincial Development Councils (PDS's) and Technical Working Groups (TWG's), together with our cooperating partenrs. Initial list of communities, schools, health and day care centres are being drawn up by PDC's and TWG's for the first three months of operation, based on a matrix of criteria designed to target the most vulnerable communities.

Zamboanga Distribution:
wFP held consultations with three provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte) to explore the possibility of a one-off food distribution. Local Goverment Units (LGUs) and line agencies have offered to pay for all transport, implementation and monitoring of thei one-project.

Partnership with goverment and United Nations
NEDA approval: WFP has approval from the National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA) to commence a three - month pilot opeartion from June to August. DSWD is finalising a proposal to go to the Investment Coordinating Commitedd for approval of the entire operation.

Complementary Inputs:
WFP has been consulting with goverment agencies at both the national and local levels to bring in complimentary inputs, including Departments of Educaiton and Health. Discussion are also ongoing with FAO, UNICEF, UNDP and World Bank to provide inputs into the operation that will enhance the School Feeding, Food-for-Work, Food-for-training and Mother and Child Nutrition projects. More on this soon!


Contacts:
World Food Programme
Manila Country Office
5/F Jaka 2 Building
150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Machadevan Ramachandran
Officer-in-Charge & Head Operations
Machadevan.Ramachandran@wfp.org

Kathryn Milliken
Programme Officer
Kathryn.Milliken@wfp.org

 
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