FSD Logo - White

Philippines

In the Philippines, FSD educates the local populations of the risks of explosive ordnance on the island of Mindanao and supports the ongoing peace process through mine action.

Maintaining-a-close-link-with-the-population-is-essential-for-successful-mine-action-operations-(Philippines)-

A farmer points out the location of an improvised mine to a member of the FSD survey team. (Philippines, 2019)

Philippines

Context

Mindanao Island, in the south of the Philippines, has known decades of conflicts between different rebel groups and the Philippine government. Each period of conflict has left behind unexploded or abandoned ammunition, putting in danger the lives of the inhabitants of the region.

Following several peace agreements between rebel groups and the government, the region accelerated its pace towards autonomy.

This encouraged FSD to develop a mine action programme involving all parties to the peace agreement, in order to restore trust among them.

 

We were told that a nine year old child found a mortar shell close to the lake and brought it back home to play with it

Merlene Usman-Degay

Community Liaison Officer for FSD in the Philippines

Merlene Usman-Degay - Community Liaison Officer for SDF in the Philippines
Philippines

Mine clearance

FSD implements surveys in localities suspected to be contaminated by unexploded ordnance or improvised mines. Such improvised devices have become increasingly common and replicated technologies found in Iraq or in Syria. When the presence of explosive ordnance is confirmed, FSD helps the Philippine armed forces intervene to neutralise the explosive hazard.

Additionally, FSD surveys mine accidents and stores the information it collects in a data base used in developing an efficient demining strategy.

Non technical surveys, Philippines
Philippines

Risk education

FSD and its network of volunteers conduct risk awareness sessions in villages affected by the conflict. More than 280,000 people now know how to react if they come across an unexploded grenade or an improvised mine.

An online prevention campaign is also implemented on social media via the local FSD Facebook page.

Mine risk education in Mindanao, Philippines
Philippines

Capacity building

FSD assumes the role of a national mine action centre in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, providing advice and technical assistance to the local authorities to help them plan and prioritise demining operations.

Additionally, FSD coordinates mine victim assistance activities through the International Committee of the Red Cross, whenever possible. 

Ultimately the project aims to help the Bangsamoro autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao acquire its own mine action centre to coordinate the work of the different demining organisations in the region. FSD will be entrusted with the mission of passing the torch to the new entity, in partnership with the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines, a local non-governmental organisation.

capacity_building_mindanao_philippines
Timeline

FSD in the Philippines

FSD began working in Mindanao in 2005 to support the peace process, providing technical expertise to the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In 2007, in partnership with the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines, FSD proposed establishing a mine action programme to improve security for the people, support reconstruction and build confidence in the peace process. On 5 May 2010, the Philippine government and the MILF signed a peace agreement to support the implementation of the project.

In 2012, with funding from the European Union’s Instrument for Stability and Peace, FSD started demining activities in Mindanao. FSD is implementing this programme in close cooperation with the Association FSD France.

Stories

News from the Philippines

Philippines,-sensibilisation-au-danger-des-mines

Risk education in the Philippines

Nothing stops our risk education team in the Philippines! At this time of the year, waiting for low tide and rolling up your trousers is the only way to reach the village of Sangkahan, where people live with the threat of explosive remnants.

How UXOs become IEDs-FSD

UXO ➡️ IED

In the Philippines, armed groups collect unexploded ordnance (UXO) such as this mortar remnant to make improvised explosive devices (IED). FSD acts as a facilitator between the different parties to prevent this type of practice […]

Joselito Remedios, 54, is a pastor and an explosive ordnance risk education provider

FSD volunteers

Joselito Remedios, 54, is a pastor and an explosive ordnance risk education provider. For the past year, he has been a member of the FSD volunteer team in the Philippines.
CENTIMETRE After CENTIMETRE

In 2021, our deminers cleared 8.5 km², an area equivalent to half of Geneva. The work required constant concentration, even in working conditions that were at times extreme.

newsletter

Where is FSD currently working in Ukraine? What does a landmine look like? Answers to your questions, once a month.

  • News from the field
  • Demining videos
  • Interviews with experts
  • Events
  • Job offers
Iraqi deminer trained to the use of a detector
Stay informed!Get the latest news on our mine action operations in Ukraine, Iraq and elsewhere.