FSD turns over school bell, replaces bombshell

BOMBSHELL TO BELL --- Fondation Suisse de Deminage (FSD) Mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Risk Education (MRE) Project Manager Markus Schindler (3^rd from left) turned over a “school bell” as replacement of an old Japanese “bombshell” during the launching of the “Bells for Bombs” hand-over ceremony last March 15 at the Malapag Elementary School in Carmen, North Cotabato. The bell was received by Malapag Elementary School principal Florencio W. Mandaiyas (5^th from right). (MARK NAVALES – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- TheFondation Suisse de Deminage(FSD), or commonly known as the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, has turned over a “school bell” as replacement of an old Japanese “bombshell” during launchingof the “Bells for Bombs” hand-over ceremony last March 15 at the Malapag Elementary School in Carmen, North Cotabato.

Florencio W. Mandaiyas, principal of MalapagElementary School, said the bombshell also known as “Japanese 50 lbs. airdrop weapon”has been used as bell of MalapagElementary School since the school was founded in year 1956.

“We used to believe that this bombshell was part of the Japanese amenities during the 2nd World War and was founded by the first group of people, the Iranon, who occupied Malapagin the early 19th century,” Mandaiyas said.

Mandaiyassaid the bombshell has been part of the MalapagElementary School and it has a priceless sentimental value because it is used as the wake-up call of everybody during class days and even during alert status, especially when peace and order was unstable then.

“This bell can actually be heard as far as the next barangay.And when it is heard ringing, everybody knows the signals we give. It simply unites the whole school and even the community, that we really value its importance,” he said.

But as part of the peace process, Mandaiyas added, their community is positively letting go of this bell to help promote and support Republic Act 9516.

“We hope this will be kept and used in a valuable manner by the proper agency that holds responsible of this,” he said.

Markus Schindler, Mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Risk Education (MRE) Project Manager, said the FSD is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Here in Mindanao, the FSD has been conducting various humanitarian mine action programmes, which includes Mines and Unexploded Ordnance Risk Education,” said Schindler.

Schindler said the programme is conducted in support of the peace process and the parties’ commitment to clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines, as stated in the Peace Agreement’s Annex on Normalisation.

“We began the programme in 2012 and have been implemented across Mindanao, specifically in areas where the presence of UXO threatens the life and well-being of civilians, said Schindler.

The risk educator also added that the MRE seeks to raise awareness on the hazardous nature of UXO and to promote safe behaviour.

“Aside from conducting MRE sessions in communities and schools in areas affected by armed conflict, the FSD has trained numerous volunteers to conduct the MRE in their communities,” he added.

Just recently, FSD teams visited schools where they received information that disarmed bombs are currently in use as school bells.

“This simply contradicts FSD’s safety message that UXO is dangerous and should not be touched,” he said.

In collaboration with the Department of Education XII office, the FSD offered to replace the bombshell bell in MalapagElementary School with a brass bell.

“Our advocacy would be reinforced effectively with everyone’s participation,” said Schindler.(GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)