Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News June 2017

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

5 economic zones eyed in Tawi-Tawi

By Othel V. Campos

Five special economic zones are expected to rise in five Tawi-Tawi islands to boost Mindanao as a viable investment site.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved the creation of the first Tawi-Tawi Special Economic Zone in May 2017 as part of a plan to create new economic zones in all idle lands in the country.

“We want to have five economic zones in Tawi-Tawi, one ecozone per island. We will build a transshipment port to support the export industry that will arise from economic zone operations,” Peza director general Charito Plaza said Friday.

The first ecozone is a 10-hectare private estate proposed by a former Mindanao governor.

Plaza said Peza planned to put up more public economic zones “because it is cheaper to locate in a government-owned ecozone.”

Tent schools open classes in Lanao

By KIMBERLY LIBRERO (With NEIL A. ALCOBER)

MORE than 900 pupils displaced by fighting in Marawi City began classes differently this week in the two Lanao provinces.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has built temporary learning shelters or tents for 941 learners who had fled Marawi.

Ten tent schools opened classes on Tuesday for elementary and secondary students. The tents are within school compounds and designed like classrooms, to allow these schools to accommodate more learners.

There are seven tent schools in the municipality of Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur which is three kilometers away from Marawi City. Lanao del Norte municipalities Pantar built two tent schools, and Balo-i, one.

Nine tent schools cater to 523 elementary pupils, while one in Saguiaran National High School caters to 218 high school enrollees. Two grade levels share one tent school, with two teachers facilitating in each.

The tent schools have feeding programs.

DepEd-ARMM also launched a psychosocial first-aid program, dubbed “Education in Emergency,” where displaced students undergo debriefing to relieve them of the traumatic experiences of war. Around 1,200 students have been debriefed.

“The enemy is defeated here. We saw the solidarity. I am thankful to Region 10 and Iligan City for the support. What the Maute group wants is to destroy us. They didn’t win,” Assistant Secretary Alfhadar Pjiji of DepEd-ARMM said.

School supplies and uniforms were provided to the students with the help of nongovernment organizations such as Save the Children and World Vision.

Bags packed

Marawi City teacher Tanjirea Mascara is supervising three TLS in Saguiaran Central Elementary School. Being an evacuee herself, she decided to volunteer for the “batang Marawi” [Marawi kids].

“Tatakas na sana ako. Pupunta na lang sa Maynila nanduon na rin ang nanay at tatay ko. Pero naisip ko, paano na lang ang mga batang Marawi. Tuloy ang laban. Walang susuko [I was about to escape. I will just go to Manila since my parents are there. But I realized, how about the children of Marawi? We should still fight. Never give up],” Mascara said.

More than their need for school materials, Mascara said Marawi students live their life in fear. “They cannot concentrate. Classes stop when helicopters hover as they are anxious. They can hear the explosions and gunfire,” she said.

Mascara said the TLS teachers and students were advised to be alert as it was possible the Islamic State-linked Maute group might move into their municipality. “Nag-pack na kami ng gamit namin. Para tatakbo na lang kami [We already packed our things so we’ll just run],” she said.

Donations needed

In Manila, the DepEd on Wednesday asked for assistance from the public and private sectors for the students and teachers displaced by the ongoing fighting in Marawi City.

Tonisito Umali, DepEd assistant secretary for legal and legislative affairs, said the education department was ready to accept donations in cash or in kind to help students and teachers in evacuation centers.

“Any help that would be given will definitely be welcomed,” he said in an interview.

Umali said the evacuees’ immediate needs include learners’ kits, teachers’ kits, hygiene and sanitation kits, cleaning materials, chairs and tents, and others.

“Those who want to donate can send their donations directly to the Iligan City National High School, or send it to the DepEd central office in Pasig City and to our regional offices nationwide,” he said.

DepEd data showed that 15,115 students from Marawi City had transferred to other schools in various regions nationwide because of the fighting. Of this number, 7,028 displaced students were in evacuation centers.

“We have already tracked 10,423 out of 22,000 Marawi displaced learners and most of them are in the Iligan City and Lanao del Norte province,” Umali said.

DepEd data however showed that at least 175 of the 1,411 teachers in different schools in Marawi remained unaccounted for.

Repairs needed

Umali also asked for donations for the repair and rehabilitation of damaged schools in Marawi City, particularly for materials such as paint, cement, nails, galvanized iron sheets, lumber and hand tools.

DepEd has identified at least seven schools with 137 classrooms damaged by the firefights in the city.

“There are 69 public schools in Marawi City that we need to look after or whether they are damaged in any way, and make sure that they are safe once classes resume in the city,” Umali said.

Among the damaged schools are Raya Madaya Elementary School, Raya Madaya II Primary School, Dansalan Primary School, Mambuay Elementary School, Mamintal Disomangcop Central Elementary School, Banggolo Elementary School and Marawi Central Elementary Pilot School.

The DepEd official said that once fighting ends, the DepEd would re-launch the “Brigada Eskwela” school cleanup drive.

Tawi-Tawi rep says Ramadan a ‘time for reflection’

By Carla N. Cañet

PRINCESS Soraya Jaafar, former representative of the Lone District of Tawi-Tawi, said the month-long Ramadan is special to all Muslims that brings together families and communities for the common goal to bring each other closer to Allah.

“To me it’s a time of reflection, healing, and renewing our endless commitment and devotion to our faith. It gives us an opportunity to improve our relationship with Allah, to seek more knowledge about Islam, and an opportunity to improve our spirituality to better ourselves and live in accordance with the teachings of Islam,” she said.

“This is true for my family. We do our best to observe the obligatory fasting and zakat (charity). Some of us observe the Taraweeh, the supplementary prayers in the evening during Ramadan. And we do these together every day as a family, supporting each other’s spiritual development – from struggling to wake up before dawn to have our pre-dawn meal, to fasting, reviewing our past deeds and praying throughout the day, and to finally having our iftar (breaking of the fast) together after sunset,” Jaafar added.

Moreover, Jaafar said that “with the current state in Mindanao, I’m saddened with grief and I cannot help but remember and pray for those families who are suffering right now in the Marawi incident, and all those who suffer due to conflict and injustice.”

As the Filipino Muslims ended Sunday their month-long fasting by celebrating Eid’l Fitr, she said, "Let Ramadan remind us all the value of love and peace especially in Mindanao. I pray that one day true peace will come to Mindanao, to our people, our community and to all places, so that all families, Muslim and non-Muslim, can enjoy the blessings of life, the love of God."

ARMM biz leaders back ‘All-Moro Convention'

By Darwin Wally T. Wee (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 27 -- Business leaders in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have expressed support for the creation of an “All-Moro Convention,” peace mechanism being pushed by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to address the decades-old Moro rebellion problem in Mindanao.

Rima Hassan, ARMM Business Council (ABC) chairperson, on Tuesday said they supported the peace platform where all concerns about the Bangsamoro peace process will be discussed and collectively be addressed.

“We want the business sector in ARMM to be part of the ongoing discussions on changing the policy environment with regard to the peace process and how it affects doing business in the region,” Hassan said.

“There is already considerable physical safety concerns and bringing new rules of the game for business will have to be carefully considered. I am referring to the two peace tracks of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front). That’s why the business sector is supportive of the government’s all Moro convention as announced by Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Datu Abul Khayr Alonto,” she added.

Alonto, who is also the former Mayor of Marawi City and founding member of the MNLF, has earlier said that there is a need for the government to come up with an “All-Moro Convention” to tie the loose ends of the peace tracks of the MNLF and MILF.

Alonto said the delays in the implementations of the Bangsamoro peace agreements provided the environment for local extremist groups such as the Maute and Abu Sayyaf to take advantage of the situation in some parts of Mindanao.

Hassan, who is from Basilan province, said that the month-long conflict in Marawi City has gravely “affected business prospects in the region and there is need for a stable environment for doing business to attract the needed business investments.”

“We believe the all Moro convention can effectively become a platform to address the particular conditions of our respective localities. For example, the business issues in the island provinces of ARMM tend to be more concerned with fostering cross-border trade with BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) particularly, Sabah, Malaysia. That means trading facilities and access to cross-border credit lines,” Hassan said.

The island province of ARMM are Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao are situated in the mainland Mindanao.

Hassan said policy instability in the midst of the Marawi City siege and its aftermath is the last thing the business sector needs in the ARMM.

“In order for the peace process not to be left only in the hands of the Moro fronts and their followers and for there to be wider buy-in, there is a need for an all Moro convention that can bring the whole of Moro society to deal with governance and societal issues that affect the business environment in ARMM,” she said.

She said the MNLF and MILF still need the support of various constituencies in ARMM “so that an all Moro convention that is not dependent on both the MNLF and MILF peace tracks but allows real inputs into it is sorely needed.”

“After all, the MNLF and MILF will also be part of such an all Moro convention,” Hassan added.

DPWH turns over second batch of relief assistance for Marawi

By Ferdinand G. Patinio (PNA)

MANILA -- The donations from the different offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been turned over to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur.

According to DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, the second batch of relief assistance consists of 450 sacks of rice, 90 boxes of canned goods, and 69 boxes of coffee.

The relief assistance was turned over to ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia and DPWH-ARMM Secretary Don Loong on Thursday, June 22, 2017 in Cotabato City.

He noted that the assistance was generated from voluntary financial contributions of DPWH officials, led by Secretary Mark Villar, and employees of the DPWH Central Office, 17 Regional Offices and 182 District Engineering Offices nationwide which reached Php4.78 million.

Last June 14, the DPWH distributed the first round of assistance to evacuation centers in Iligan City for 3,572 individuals/evacuees.

Aside from the aid, the department is also part of a National Oversight Committee that will be responsible for reconstructing and rebuilding Marawi City.

It will involved the conduct of clearing operations, assessment on infrastructure and facilities such as roads, bridges, water supply systems, government buildings, houses, mosques, churches and other vital structures and preparation of design plans and programs of work.

The clashes between government troops and Maute group are still on going which resulted in the deaths of many people and displacing thousands others.

DOH-ARMM needs physician, nurse volunteers for Marawi IDPs

(EOF/PNA)

COTABATO CITY, June 25 (PNA) – Addressing health problems in Marawi City has become gargantuan to undertake that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Health chief said there is a need for more volunteers to fill up existing health providers attending to internally displaced persons.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr, Department of Health (DOH-ARMM) regional secretary, said as the situation drags, the immunity of IDPs goes down, a situation vulnerable to outbreak of deadly but preventable diseases.

“We have an urgent appeal to our fellow health workers who are willing to volunteer and help save the lives of residents affected by Marawi conflict,” Sinolinding told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Saturday. “Please contact me 09209091094 or DOH-ARMM hotline (064) 421-6842 should you want to serve."

Sinolinding said most of ARMM physicians under the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO-Lanao Sur) and Marawi City Health Office reside in Marawi.

“They themselves are IDPs. They need a break from the horrible experience. They are all physically tired and mentally exhausted,” he said.

Sinolinding said the health situation in evacuation centers and health facilities are getting difficult by the day.

”Over-crowding, unsanitary living condition, emotional stress and physical exhaustion put our IDPs highly vulnerable to various diseases,” Sinolinding said.

“We are expecting evacuees will be sick particularly the children and the old people,” he added.

Sinolinding said since day one, Muslim government physicians, nurses and health providers have been relentless in serving the IDPs even during the month of Ramadhan. But he added that they are also human and will be exhausted soon.

The health chief said volunteers who are general practitioners, internists and pediatricians are preferred. “But anyone with a good heart for the Marawi people is most welcome.”

Meanwhile, the IPHO-Lanao Sur reported it had treated some 4,856 displaced children from Marawi affected with common diseases the past 10 days.

They were given medical treatment during the latest outreach missions that benefited thousands of evacuees confined in evacuation centers.

About 9,325 adult patients were given medication and treated for various diseases through medical mission and outreach programs.

Dr. Allen Minalang, chief of IPHO-Lanao del Sur, reported that 1,019 pregnant evacuees and 1,367 lactating mothers were also provided with medical interventions.

Trilateral maritime patrols seen to boost trade in ARMM

(TPGJR/PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 22 –- The Board of Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BOI-ARMM) on Thursday said that establishment of the trilateral maritime patrol (TMP) arrangement between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will boost business confidence in ARMM.

“This (TMP) is an important development for the ARMM because people from our island provinces have been doing cross-border trade since time immemorial and even before there were borders to cross,” Ishak Mastura, chairperson of the BOI-ARMM, said in a statement Thursday.

The TMP was launched on Monday in the island of Tarakan, Indonesia.

Mastura said noted that incidents of piracy and lawlessness in the Sulu Sea did not prevent traditional cross-border trade “but international transshipment was affected by it.”

“By conducting trilateral border patrols we believe that transshipment, wherein bigger volumes of cargoes are safely moved among the three countries, can make a comeback,” he said.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman also welcomed the TMP, saying it would ensure security for traders in the ARMM who are doing business in Malaysia and Indonesia.

“This development will shore up trade and commerce in these areas,” he said, noting this will also help small-scale enterprises in the region.

Hataman said traders in ARMM have been doing businesses in these neighboring areas for centuries through barter trading.

He said tighter security measures in the Sulu Sea would also help as the regional government is pushing for the revival of barter trading to curb smuggling activities in southern Philippines.

The defense department of Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, have agreed to step-up security measures in the roughly one million square-kilometer tri-border area in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas.

The TMP was agreed upon following a spike in hijacking in the last quarter of 2016, where local terrorist Abu Sayyaf group attacked international vessels and kidnapped sailors.

To date, there are still five Vietnamese sailors that are in the hands of the bandits.

This tri-border area is among the major trade routes in Southeast Asia.

The route is the fishing ground of commercial fishery operators, specifically those into tuna and sardines operations.

This route is also used by Indonesian suppliers of coal for power plants in Mindanao and in the transshipment of major goods between Sabah in Malaysia and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, who also oversees the operations of the Maritime Command Center in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi under the Joint Task Force IndoMalPhil, said the initiative is also aimed at combating the present threat of jihadist groups, which use this route in setting up cells in the three neighboring countries.

Tarawee for Marawi offered on World Refugee Day

(Mindanews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 June) — Tarawee for Marawi.

A simultaneous tarawee was offered in the cities of Iligan and Cotabato and in Bongao, Tawi-tawi province on Tuesday, June 20, World Refugee Day, in solidarity with Marawi City residents affected by the still raging armed conflict in the country’s lone Islamic City.

The tarawee, a special prayer composed of 11 sets of verses recited before midnight during Ramadan was offered simultaneously at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday in the cities of Iligan and Cotabato, and in Tawi-tawi, according to a press release of Oxfam Philippines.

This year’s Ramadan came at a time of war, particularly affecting residents of Marawi City who fled the country’s lone Islamic city due to clashes between government forces and the Maute Group since May 23 and the government’s air strikes since May 25.

Ramadan began on May 27.

As of 6 pm on June 16 ,the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in its Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center Report number 40 said a total of 334 persons (68,512 families) have been displaced by the armed conflict in Marawi since May 23. Of this number, 307,514 are from the 95of 96 barangays of Marawi City.

Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee told MindaNews on Monday, June 19 that they estimate at least 300 to 600 civilians remaint rapped in the conflict zone.

Another100 are held hostaged by the Maute Group, among them Fr. Teresito Suganob, Vicar General of the Prelature of Marawi.

Samira Gutoc of the Ranao Rescue Team told ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart last Monday that it is “double burden” for the Maranao evacuees becuase “it is fasting… but at night where they can eat, there’s nothing to eat because there’s no commercial establishment” operating within the conflict area.

Gutoc urged the military and the Maute Group to “let the food in.”

The tarawee was streamed live from various locations mainly through the Oxfam in the Philippines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OxfamsaPilipinas/ and Twitter page: @oxfamph.

Evacuees’ prayer

The Marawi-based non-governmental organization, Al Mujadilah Development Foundation, collated prayers from residents who were forced to leave their homes in Marawi, for reading after the tarawee.

“We conducted this activity to promote empathy and encourage acts of solidarity for the people of Marawi during these trying times,” said Zahria Mapandi, the foundation’s Executive Director.

The evacuee’s collective prayer:

“We have witnessed Marawi City driven to its knees by forces espousing hatred, divisiveness, and mistrust under the guise of Islam. This desolation forever changed the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual landscape of the glorious old Dansalan and begot the worse in some of us and the best in humanity among the several who defied death to save lives and the many who showed overwhelming compassion and support from all over the world.

“Dear God, we pray that the near-death of Marawi will trigger understanding, unity, and love among all peoples regardless of race, gender, and religion instead. May recovery and rehabilitation be quick and the healing of our collective anguish and pain, and the restoration if not blossoming of the good relationship of all citizens of our country in spite of the madness that ensued. We pray for your blessings, O God, that we all rise above the ruins and focus on what brings us together rather than what keeps us apart.

“May Marawi’s fall be a warning to all of us never again to let hatred reign in our hearts that will topple down our cities.

“May Marawi stand as fast as it fell and may its renewal bring fresh hope and a new beginning that will symbolize the great achievement of humanity united in purpose, empathy, and concern.

“This, we beg of you Almighty with our bleeding hearts emptied of hatred and greed and our hands clasped together in unity and love to our fellow human beings.”

“Tarawee for Marawi” was initiated by Oxfam’s local NGO partners: United Youth of the Philippines – Women, Al Mujadilah Development Foundation, Community Organizers Multiversity, Nisa Ul Haqq fi Bangsamoro, Tarbilang Foundation Incorporated, the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, the Humanitarian Response Consortium, and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc.

ARMM receives eight ambulance units from PCSO

By JUSTIN SANTOS

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) attended the formal turnover ceremony of the eight ambulance units for local government units (LGUs) and hospitals in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) donated on May 17 at the Bajau Hall, ORG-ARMM in Cotabato City.

The PCSO Team, composed of General Manager Alexander Balutan, Mindanao Department Manager Gloria Ybañez and South Cotabato Branch Manager Misael Hamak, was acknowledged by the Board of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman.

GM Alex Balutan in his speech said, “None of these charity programs would be possible if not for the support and patronization of the public of PCSO’s lotto and sweepstakes game products through responsible gaming.”

He also explained the difference between gambling and responsible gaming. Furthermore, he pushed for the benefits of establishing more lotto outlets in the ARMM area which will result to higher LGU shares and will automatically translate into more charity assistance within the localities, such as ambulance donation, endowment fund, medical equipment and the PCSO IMAP.

During the press interview, GM Balutan added PCSO is expanding the Small Town Lottery or STL, and once again encouraged everyone that the more outlets established, the more programs the government can provide for its community.

Recipients of the ambulance units were Mayor Mohammad-Ali Guro from the Municipality of Matanog, Maguindanao; Mayor Abdulradzak Tomawis from the Municipality of Barira, Maguindanao; Mayor Abdulkarim Langkuno from the Municipality of Paglat, Maguindanao; Mayor Raul Mastura from the Municipality of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; Mayor Bai Johaira Ampatuan from the Municipality of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao; Mayor Adbulmohaimen Dipatuan from the Municipality of Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao del Sur; Chief of Basilan General Hospital Rufino Gaudiel of Isabela City, Basilan; and Chief of Ilof Sulu Sanitarium Government Hospital Aminkadra Majid of Jolo, Sulu.

ARMM to add more sanitation facilities in evacuation sites

(EOF/PNA)

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- Health officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will add more sanitation facilities in temporary shelters to prevent sanitary related diseases.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, ARMM regional health secretary, in his report to ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, said to ensure the health of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs), there is a need to add more sanitation facilities like comfort rooms in evacuation sites to prevent the possible outbreak of preventable diseases.

"Some of the fatalities have died due to water borne diseases, clean and sanitary environment will save children who are highly vulnerable," he said in a phone interview.

"Proper disposal of human wastes and availability of safe drinking water will spare children from diseases, that is why we are prioritizing sanitary facilities because we have no idea when this crisis will end," he added.

More than 4,000 persons have been given medical aid by ARMM health providers in Iligan City and the towns outside the beleaguered city.

Since May 23, DOH-ARMM listed 39 deaths, 19 of which were validated while the rest were reported by relatives who immediately buried them in accordance with Islamic tradition, Sinolinding said.

Hataman said while majority of the almost 46,000 families displaced by the armed conflict in Marawi City have sought shelter in their relative’s houses, some families are forced to crowd into evacuation camps.

The unfavorable condition in evacuation camps expose IDPs to potential health risks.

ARMM officials headed by Hataman and ARMM Exec. Secretary Laisa Alamia, conducted an ocular inspection of evacuation sites in Saguiaran and Malabang, both in Lanao del Sur, not far from Marawi City.

Sinolinding said the establishment of sanitary facilities were among the priorities health workers did early on during mass evacuation of Marawi City residents after hostilities broke out on May 23.

Hataman said the ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will construct additional 20 toilets in two evacuation camps in the town of Saguiaran and 10 toilets in Malabang.

The agency will also put up washing and bathing facilities and provision of water tanks. The facilities, which will be separate for male and female, will cater to a total of at least 500 families.

Hataman said it will help improve conditions in evacuation camps and reduce the risk of health problems.

The ARMM, in coordination with other government agencies responding to the Marawi City crisis, is utilizing the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (DAFAC) system to ensure efficient relief distribution and evaluate the status and appropriate needs of affected families.

In addition to the region’s Crisis Management Committee in Cotabato City, the ARMM has established operation centers in Iligan City and the town of Malabang to facilitate the coordination of its humanitarian response, which include relief and medical aids and rescue and retrieval operations of trapped civilians.

When the conflict started to wind up, Hataman said the ARMM will transfer its operation center in Iligan City to Marawi City to improve relief efforts and other humanitarian interventions to families who have evacuated to different towns in Lanao del Sur

'Tent cities' eyed for Marawi evacuees

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The government is eyeing to set up "tent cities" in the event that the number of evacuees from Marawi City, about 324,400 so far, increases.

As of Wednesday, about 66,738 families or 324,406 individuals were displaced from Marawi City and from the municipality of Marantao in Lanao del Sur following an armed conflict between government forces and local terror groups.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that only five percent of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) stay in evacuation centers spread out in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Cagayan de Oro City.

"We are also looking at, if the number of IDPs will really swell, setting up of tent cities, so the national incident management team deployed in the area is now looking at that possibility," NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said in a televised press briefing at Malacañang.

The remaining 95 percent of IDPs are home-based or are staying with their relatives and friends, according to the agency.

With the Office of Civil Defense as overall coordinator, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health are the two lead agencies in providing assistance to the IDPs.

"Responding to the needs of the IDPs, the DSWD as lead in the management of evacuation centers as well as in providing food and non-food items, the Department of Health as the lead in providing for water, health and sanitation," Jalad said.

The NDRRMC is focused on responding to the needs of the IDPs in areas affected by the Marawi siege, Jalad said.

"Our record is already about P84 million worth of assistance provided by various agencies," Jalad said.

The Duterte administration has pledged to allocate P10 billion for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and a bill has been filed at the House of Representatives for a 'Tindig Marawi' supplemental budget to help fund the rehabilitation and defense of the city.

Zamboanga City residents displaced by a siege on the city by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front led by Nur Misuari in 2013 are still being relocated to permanent housing as of this year.

ARMM: P77 million allocated for IDPs

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government has, meanwhile, spent around P35 million on humanitarian aid for those affected by the Marawi crisis, the regional government's Bureau of Public Information said.

The money has been used for urgent relief for more than 200,000 IDPs.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has said the regional government has allocated P77 million for Marawi City residents displaced by fighting that has been going on since May 23.

The region's crisis management committee has so far distributed relief packs to 200, 234 IDPs and medical assistance to 4,003.

It maintains a round-the-clock emergency helpline that has helped rescue 5,132 civilians trapped in combat zones in the besieged city. At least 1,079 are still trapped in the city and need to be rescued.

On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao after a clash between government troops and the Maute terror group.

Abdilla: A new kind of hero in Tawi-Tawi City

(ABS-CBN Sport)

A heart-felt smile lights up Alnakran ‘Ran-Ran’ Abdilla’s handsome face when told that where he came from – Bongao, Tawi-Tawi City in strife-torn Mindanao – folk revere him as a hero.

The modest airman 2nd class from the Philippine Air Force and BS Criminology graduate from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas won’t volunteer the information, ever, but the slew of highly-talented Muslims from his town of birth who arrived and keep arriving in Manila to follow in his footsteps are only willing to attest to that.

Not only are they exceptionally talented in volleyball like him, bright, young men who are wondrous high leapers and powerful spikers; they also generally take up what he took up in university: criminology.

Marisa Ismail, mother of Fauzi Ismail of the National University Bulldogs, says her son greatly idolizes Abdilla in fluent Filipino:

“Ismail played football in elementary, but in high school he shifted to volleyball because he told me he wanted to be like Ran-Ran. He (Abdilla) at the time was very popular in Tawi-Tawi and he still is until now. He is a great role model for the youths in our city.”

Ismail is now playing side by side with his hero, two key players of the Air Force Jet Spikers pitted against the Cignal Tv HD Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League men’s finals.

The PVL is an expanded version of the highly successful V League under the same organizer, Sports Vision, with Asics as official league partner, and Mikasa as official game ball.

Terrifying fall

It looked like the end of Abdilla’s athletic career when, playing only his third game on May 26, 2015 in the opening season of Spikers’ Turf, he crumpled on to the floor howling in pain after executing a spike.

Mercifully, it was not an ACL injury as many had feared. A muscle tear only, Abdilla explains, serious enough to lay him off for a long time. What boggles the mind, though, is why he had to wait for eight months or so before he submitted himself to surgery. Recovery took him another six months. He didn’t play for two years, he says.

Indisposed for that long, he says hunger, regrets, and even envy gnawed at his heart as he helplessly watched the Jet Spikers capture two more AFP Olympics titles and sweep the Open and Reinforced Conference championships of Spikers’ Turf in 2016, its final year.

“I will always feel bad,” says Abdilla, “if I so much as miss a game. To be unable to play for two years is sure to make me crazy as I’m used to playing all my life as a starter for any team I’m on.”

Oh, Abdilla felt crazy but a different kind of crazy. He went completely gaga over his only child by the name of Summer, who was born a few days before he injured himself. All his waking hours after his work and during the long layoff off the court he devoted to fathering his firstborn.

Every day of the long rainy days in his sporting career, Summer, says Abdilla, a father’s pride glinting in his eyes, “had brought me and my wife untold joy. I watched her grow, heard her first word, saw her take her first step. I became more determined to come back to volleyball so she could watch me play like the rest of the Air Force children.”

Summer, now a healthy, hyperactive two-year-old, and his mom were around when Abdilla returned to the court after a long absence, scoring 18 points in the Jet Spikers’ opening game in the new Premier Volleyball League against the Sta. Elena Wrecking Balls.

In his comeback year Abdilla made it anew to the national team going to the upcoming Southeast Asia Games, another feat that will surely make Tawi-Tawi City or the whole of Mindanao proud again.

OVP partners with ARMM for Marawi rehab

(SFM/PNA)

MANILA, June 14 -- The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), in cooperation with various Angat Buhay partners, convened Wednesday at the Quezon City Reception House to craft rehabilitation efforts for Marawi City.

Through the Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation program of Angat Buhay, the OVP has already distributed a total of 7,867 relief packs, reaching out to affected families in Marawi City.

While the fight to regain Marawi is still ongoing, OVP has already initiated to collaborate with the ARMM government in its rehabilitation initiatives.

During the discussion, the ARMM government has set three phases to help Marawi recover. Early recovery and reconstruction, medium term-reconstruction, and long-term rehabilitation and development, as Phases I-III, respectively, have been laid out, with Angat Buhay and its partners teaming up for augmentation efforts.

Currently, efforts are focused on Phase I: Early recovery and reconstruction. Rehabilitation in this stage is centered on responding to humanitarian needs such as protection, health and nutrition, and education; and food security and livelihood, shelter, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

With the ongoing rehabilitation program, Marawi continues to call for food packs that are halal-certified, malong, breast milk, water and water filters, as well as psycho-social intervention for the holistic healing of our brothers and sisters affected by the conflict in Mindanao.

OVP partners with ARMM for Marawi rehab

(SFM/PNA)

MANILA, June 14 -- The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), in cooperation with various Angat Buhay partners, convened Wednesday at the Quezon City Reception House to craft rehabilitation efforts for Marawi City.

Through the Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation program of Angat Buhay, the OVP has already distributed a total of 7,867 relief packs, reaching out to affected families in Marawi City.

While the fight to regain Marawi is still ongoing, OVP has already initiated to collaborate with the ARMM government in its rehabilitation initiatives.

During the discussion, the ARMM government has set three phases to help Marawi recover. Early recovery and reconstruction, medium term-reconstruction, and long-term rehabilitation and development, as Phases I-III, respectively, have been laid out, with Angat Buhay and its partners teaming up for augmentation efforts.

Currently, efforts are focused on Phase I: Early recovery and reconstruction. Rehabilitation in this stage is centered on responding to humanitarian needs such as protection, health and nutrition, and education; and food security and livelihood, shelter, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

With the ongoing rehabilitation program, Marawi continues to call for food packs that are halal-certified, malong, breast milk, water and water filters, as well as psycho-social intervention for the holistic healing of our brothers and sisters affected by the conflict in Mindanao.

Islamic scholars, schools in ARMM mount counteroffensive vs extremism

By Manuel Cayon

DAVAO CITY—The country’s Islamic scholars, including the house of jurisprudence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), publicly announced they were mounting a counter ideological warfare against terrorist organizations, a month after the ARMM hosted the first Ulama Summit in Cotabato City.

Both the Ulama Council of the Philippines and the Darul Ifta, or the Fatwa Council of the ARMM, said they “are waging an ideological war against the spread of radicalism and extremism through a holistic approach in the Islamic teaching”.

“We are engaging all sectors to address the spread of religious extremism and radicalism in the country,” said Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, the executive director of the ARMM Darul Ifta, or Islam’s house of jurisprudence.

The Darul Ifta is the highest decision-making body of Islam in matters relating to Islamic doctrine and principles.

The ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information said last Thursday Islamic scholars in the island province of Basilan “forged several agreements with the regional and provincial governments, as well as with line agencies, to carry out multi-approaches to deny the spread of extremist ideology in their area”.

Muhajid said the move was an offshoot of the Ulama summit in Cotabato City in early May, when the ulama issued a declaration against terrorism, saying “it is haram, or forbidden and unlawful, to use Islam to justify or legitimize violent extremism and terrorism.”

The ulama also challenged themselves “to reeducate [their] constituents to rediscover Islamic faith for justice, compassion, harmony and peace.”

“It is imperative upon us all to cooperate and collaborate with the stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism in its many forms and manifestations,” the declaration said.

Days before the Ulama summit, the Islamic State-linked Dawla Islamiya also issued its warning against them and their families. “To those who have ulama relatives, warn your parents, brothers and children not to attend the said summit because if something happens to them along the way or in the end, don’t tell us you were not warned,” the Dawla Islamiya statement said.

Mujahid said they were “engaging all stakeholders to overcome the challenges of extremism, as what is happening in Marawi City.”

“These extremist groups are using the creed of Islam. As a matter of fact, they are using the so-called 13 doctrines of Islam and citing verses of the Holy Koran in justifying their criminal and inhumane acts. We cannot and will not allow that,” he said.

“Our call is to fight against violent extremism and terrorism,” Mujahid said.

Also, the ARMM information office quoted one Alih Aiyub, secretary-general of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, as saying what they are employing “are multidisciplinary approaches in concretizing preventing violent extremism and countering violent extremism.”

He said they have identified “seven interventions” to address the threat.

“Ulama will handle the spiritual aspect to combat terrorism targeting the youth and winning the hearts and minds of those radicalized through sermons in the mosques and other means,” he added.

The educational intervention includes working “with educational institutions to provide a primer or module, as reference material, and train teachers for effective prevention of violent extremism among their students,” Aiyub said.

“Scholarships will also be provided on skills training for out-of-school youth by tapping the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority [Tesda] as a partner,” he said.

There would be psychological intervention, such as values formation to be carried out by local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, targeting the youth sector.

“The program will also have a component for social intervention, which will help mold an individual to be productive and peaceful through trainings. This will also be implemented along with economic intervention, such as providing livelihood programs for the youth through government line agencies like the Department of Agriculture and Tesda,” Aiyub added.

They would also engage with the security sector “to shield the youth from being recruited by extremist groups and to provide peace and security in the community,” Mujahid said.

The program would be piloted in Basilan, he said.

“We are going to implement it in the different parts of the region. We are piloting this initiative in Basilan. We would conduct an assessment and fine-tune it before implementing it in other provinces,” Mujahid added.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said he instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the ARMM to initiate forums for local government officials across the region to understand the complexity of the problem and how to combat it.

“When the masses, the religious leaders, and the political leaders are united to work together for the betterment of our society, we can succeed, Insha Allah,” he said.

Schools in Marawi, other affected districts would open classes June 19

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

Unless further extended to a later date based on the recommendation of the relevant security agencies, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that school opening in Marawi City and other affected districts will be on June 19.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd Memo No. 98 series of 2017 dated June 2, issued “emergency measures” in response to the Marawi situation wherein it was stressed that “even in the face of emergencies, DepEd is committed to reach out to our learners wherever they may be and to ensure that their education proceeds.”

Briones said the ongoing armed conflict “resulted in massive evacuation of the local population to nearby cities and municipalities.” After consulting with key officials of DepEd in the Mindanao regions as well DepEd-ARMM, DepEd instituted emergency measures “to address the dislocation of basic education learners from their place of schools, the significant security concerns in other affected areas, and other implications of the Marawi situation on school operations.”

In the said memo, Briones said that opening of classes in the entire Division of Marawi City as well as in the Districts of Ditsaan Ramain I, Ditsaan Ramain II, Ditsaan Ramain III, Marantao I, Marantao II, Saguiaran I, Saguiaran II, and Saguiaran III in the Division of Lanao Del Sur is postponed to June 19, 2017 “unless further extended to a later date based on the recommendation of the relevant security agencies and in consultation with DepEd ARMM and the ARMM government.”

The said schools, Briones said, may “hold makeup classes on appropriate days and if possible, still end classes on the last day as provided in the school calendar.” She also noted that necessary security considerations, such as early class dismissals, may also be adopted by affected divisions.

Briones reiterated stressed “all public schools where displaced students from Marawi City will seek to be accommodated are directed to accept these emergency transferees even with the unavailability or insufficiency of the required transfer credentials.”

10 Barangays in Maguindanao province deemed as drug-free

By Chito Chavez

Ten barangays from Maguindanao province have been classified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as cleared of illegal drugs.

These are barangays are Talisawa in the municipality of Abdullah Sanki; Borongotan, in the municipality of Upi; Malamiton, municipality of Ampatuan; and Idtig, municipality of Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun. Barangays Neketan, Dulangan, Bagoenged, Sapalan, Bitu and Tanuel, all in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, were also proclaimed as drug-cleared.

The assessment was made after a careful and thorough validation by different government agencies and the Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Operations on June 1, 2017.

PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña explained a drug-cleared barangay as defined by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017, otherwise known as “Strengthening the Implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program”, is a barangay that was previously drug-affected and subjected to drug-clearing operations, and declared drug-free under the parameters established by the DDB.

“Drug-cleared barangays have the responsibility to maintain their status,” Lapeña added.

The Municipal Oversight Committee is headed by Regional Director Juvenal Azurin of PDEA Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), with representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH) and Local Government Unit (LGU) as members.

Govt assures enough funds available to sustain needs of Marawi IDPs

(EOR/PIA)

ILIGAN CITY/MINDANAO HOUR, June 9 (PIA) – There is budget allotted for the assistance to sustain the needs of the evacuees.

Planning with the National Defense Team has been conducted since from the very beginning and implementation of recovery has been looked forward to, said Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, administrator, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and executive director, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in a press briefing held at the Regional command and Coordination Center in Iligan City.

Jalad also said, “I came here to check the performance of the system that we have, check if we have some needs to be downloaded to the National Office, and we have more issues that needs to be addressed.”

Marawi city will be subject to clearing program to prepare for the recovery, said Usec Jalad.

The undersecretary likewise gave emphasis on the Executive Order No. 82 about crisis management wherein the primary arm in the operation is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Signed 4 September 2012, EO 82 activates the practical guide to organized government response during emergencies for both national and local crisis management committees.

The order states “there is a need to establish and clearly delineate authority, responsibility and accountability of crisis management organizations and Incident Command Systems from the national to the local levels.

The role of DRRM sets in on the consequence of the human induced hazard, which is to manage the effects of the displacement.

In response to the situation, RCCC was put up, Regional Response Clusters were activated, and also with National Incident Management Team (NIMT) under the Task Group Emergency Preparedness Response (TGEPR) in support to the current situation.

“Two mechanisms are being planned, the AFP to address the needs of the IDPs, we have activated the response clusters, to provide assistance to those who are in need. NIMT are being organized. Two regions are involved—Davao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said Jalad.

To assist in consequence management related to the Marawi City incident, Cagayan de Oro City DRRM Department Overseer Col Mario Verner S Monsanto (ret), along with a contingent composed of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, reported to Iligan city. Monsanto serves as the incident commander of the NIMT.

Meanwhile, Usec. Jalad dispelled speculation of torture in Marawi saying, “There is no case of torture being reported.”

Going back to the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Jalad said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed food items.

Most of the evacuees wants to cook their own food, they have water, drinking waters should be provided in the evacuation centers even when they receive some water donation, providing the needs of the IDP’s are the top priority and there is assurance for the sustenance of provisions.

For those organizations that conducts rescue in Marawi City, Jalad said that securing coordination with OCD, and LGU is a must. The goal is good, rescue operations are being encouraged but of course there should be clearance from the OCD, and appreciation to the civil society organizations (CSO’s) are given.

Jalad further said that the NDRRMC when it comes to the effect of consequence, all the government can do is still address the needs of the affected persons, to address the crisis, which is human induced, the operating arm of the government, is the AFP, when it comes to consequence management. But when it comes to natural disasters, the mechanism represented to NDRRMC has no security threat, but the main threat is the natural hazard, as we can see two mechanisms are being applied.

Humanitarian aid reaches Marawi evacuees through peace corridor

(philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — Relief teams on Thursday used a 'peace corridor' secured by government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to bring relief supplies and medical aid to displaced Marawi residents in Lanao del Sur.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said humanitarian aid reached evacuees in Malabang, Madamba, Bubong, Masiu, Marantao and Ditsain Ramain.

OPAPP said food aid was distributed by the United Bangsamoro Humanitarian Assistance in coordination with the MILF's Bangsamoro Development agency.

"The ARMM Regional Command Center facilitated the deployment of medical doctors and supplies of the International Committee on the Red Cross in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur," OPAPP also said.

The peace corridor for the flow of humanitarian aid is separate from another corridor for the rescue of civilians still trapped in Marawi City and the recovery of bodies from the besieged city.

The corridors run from Malabang to Marawi City, a distance of around 70 kilometers.

Irene Santiago, chair of the government implementing panel for the Bangsamoro Peace Accords and who has been heading relief efforts in coordination with the MILF, said the corridor for humanitarian aid is separate

The peace corridor, which President Rodrigo Duterte has approved, is a joint effort of the government and MILF peace implementing panels. The two panels have put up Joint Coordinating, Monitoring and Assistance Centers in Marawi and Malabang.

The centers coordinate with the ARMM, Lanao del Sur provincial government and security forces on the distribution and delivery of aid.

Marawi hospital gets go signal to resume operation

By Jasper Marie Oblina - Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

ILIGAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) is doing necessary assessment and inventories to revive its health facility, Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, following a go signal from the Philippine Army to resume operation in the area.

In a press conference in Iligan City command and coordinating center, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, assistant regional director of DOH region 10 said that the Philippine army has given them the go signal to resume operation of Amai Pakpak medical center in the area to provide health services to residents and evacuees of Marawi City.

Another good news, he said is that contrary to reports, they don’t have casualties from hospital personnel. Right now, they are planning with the chief of hospital regarding skeletal forces that will be deployed in the center.

“We are doing the assessment and we’re going to do the inventories. And we are going to calibrate our response, deployment based on the operations of the hospital,” said Suba-an.

If there is a need to deploy more, then we will do it,” he said.

“We are happy that we have a go signal from the military because that means the insurance of the safety of our personnel there,” added Suba-an.

Meanwhile, DOH is looking at the whole picture, the long range plan not just with the patients but for the human resources and physical facility of the hospital. Further, he said that health secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial issued a memorandum up to June 13 that all personnel of Amai Pakpak will do some stress debriefing. Some are crying, in trauma. They don’t want to be deployed there.

We would like to give the highest services needed by the people of Marawi, but we would also like to make sure that our personnel is equipped and ready to provide these services, Suba-an explained.

On the other hand, Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief integrated provincial health office Lanao del Sur assured that they have not monitored any pattern of outbreak in the evacuation centers.

This is attributed to the health services we are providing, he said.

Our health personnel who are also evacuees themselves are able to operate our operation center with health emergencies and this is with the help of center for health development of region 10 especially in monitoring our evacuees both home based and in evacuation centers. Twenty five (25%) evacuees are in evacuation centers meanwhile 75% are home based or living with their relatives, Minalang said.

When it comes to diseases observed in the evacuation centers, most of them are due to harsh conditions, such as lack of sanitation facilities. Number one is upper tract respiratory infection, cough, fever, acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea especially on children. Next is hypertension and skin diseases because of congestion and hot temperature.

Prices of rice, other basic goods remain stable in ARMM

(EOF/PNA)

COTABATO CITY, June 6 (PNA) -- Trade and industry officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Monday denied reports that prices of basic commodities in the region have gone up following the Marawi City crisis.

“Prices of rice have remained stable as of today,” according to DTI-ARMM Sec. Anwar Malang.

“There is no truth to reports by some media organizations that prices of rice per sack in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City have increased to as much as PHP6,000,” Malang said.

He said at the start of mass evacuation in Marawi, he directed his department’s price monitoring unit in partnership with local government units to ensure no one would manipulate the prices of basic food.

A price freeze of commodities was automatically enforced in Mindanao after President Rodrigo Duterte declared Martial Law for 60 days on May 23.

He warned of stiffer penalties against violators in accordance with Republic Act 7581, or the Price Act. Under martial law, price freeze on basic necessities shall be automatically implemented in areas under a state of calamity.

Covered by the price freeze are basic commodities including but not limited to canned sardines, processed milk, bottled water, locally manufactured instant noodles, coffee, detergent soap, bread, candles, salt, rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh pork, fresh beef, fresh poultry meat, fresh and dried fish and other marine products, fresh egg, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, root crops and sugar.

Since Day 1 of the Marawi incident, Malang said his office has been conducting almost daily monitoring of prices of basic goods in towns surrounding Marawi City and other parts of the region.

“We are intensifying the monitoring to check if business establishments are complying with the price freeze order,” Malang told reporters.

The monitoring covers the municipalities of Buadipuso Buntong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Poona Bayabao, Tamparan, Malabang, Ganassi, Marantao and Watu Balindong.

He noted, though, that there was a slight increase in prices which traders normally apply during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Violators of the Price Act will be fined ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP1,000,000 and/or imprisonment from one to 10 years.

3-phase recovery, rehab for Marawi

(EOF/PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has started a three-phase recovery and rehabilitation plan for Marawi City in partnership with city and provincial government of Lanao del Sur.

ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman said this will be implemented once the conflict in Marawi is over.

Dubbed as “Unified Plan for Marawi City,” the governor said recovery and rehabilitation initiative will be linked to the existing plans of neighboring municipalities.

Hataman said the plan will be administered under the joint leadership of the ARMM’s Regional Planning and Development Office and the Marawi City government, and will employ the “Build-Better-Now” approach for better planning and urban design.

“The plan shall build on previous efforts on disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and response,” Hataman said, quoting part of the unified plan.

He said it will be culture-sensitive given the context of Marawi as an Islamic city, and will consider issues on land tenure and land use. Conflict resolution processes are also embedded in the said plan.

“As we continue to deliver relief to those affected by this crisis, we also need to plan and to prepare to build the future that the people of Marawi are holding on to,” Hataman said.

"Marawi is home to our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro, and it is our responsibility to make sure that it continues to be home for our people. We cannot let terror drive us away from the places we have built for ourselves and our family," Hataman said without providing the project cost.

Initially, ARMM earmarked PHP170 million for emergency response to victims of Marawi hostilities.

He added that experts from the World Bank will assist in the formulation of the said plan.

The program includes Early Recovery and Reconstruction for a period of three to 12 months; Medium-term Reconstruction for 1-6 years, and Long-term Rehabilitation and Development for six years and beyond.

He said prior assessment in the area will precede program implementation.

This includes assessment on the extent of damage the crisis has caused on Maranaos, their properties and infrastructures.

Explaining the program to the details, Hataman showed a matrix of sectoral needs, based on estimated damage and losses that would be formulated to come up with the recovery and rehabilitation objectives.

The sectors that would be covered are productive services (agriculture, industry commerce and tourism); social (housing, education, cultural heritage, and health), infrastructure (electricity, water and sanitation, transport, flood control and drainage, and telecommunications), and cross-cultural (local government, social protection, financial sector and disaster risk reduction and management).

Learning centers set up for Marawi students

(EOF/PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Education officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have designed a program that aims to establish learning centers in order not to hamper the opening of classes in conflict-stricken Marawi City.

Dr. John Magno, of the Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM), said his office has coordinated with DepEd in Region 10 and in Iligan City for the establishments of temporary learning centers.

"I would like to appreciate the positive response of our education officials from Iligan and Region 10," Magno said in a radio interview here.

The hostilities in Marawi City had affected 132 public and private schools, displacing 22,037 students and 1,507 teachers.

"Even in evacuation centers in Iligan City, learning centers can be established for student-evacuees," Magno said.

ARMM reported a total of 26,720 families or 133,700 individuals from the city and its nearby towns have evacuated, either in designated evacuation centers, or at their relatives’ houses.

Still, over 3,000 individuals are still stranded in war-torn Marawi.

Magno has directed all education superintendents, supervisors, principals and teachers and teachers in Lanao del Sur not affected by the Marawi crisis to accommodate students from the city who fled to their districts.

“The Marawi conflict should not deny students the opportunity to continue education in areas where they temporarily sheltered,” Magno said, hoping the hostilities in the city will be over soon.

The DepEd-ARMM also deploys newly trained personnel for psycho-social intervention on the affected students.

“We need to address the psychological impact of the conflict to students, especially the young, for them to cope up and move forward,” he added.

Public school teacher Aslimah Sampaco, 43, resident of the municipality of Marantao, said she is ready to teach in evacuation center put up by ARMM in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, about 43 kilometers from her town.

Marantao is next to Marawi City and residents there fled to Balabagan town and attended to by ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART).

She shared how she and her family escaped during the crisis. Sampaco was in Iligan City on the day that the fighting between the terrorists and government forces started.

She knew it was no longer safe for her to go back to Marantao because she had to pass through Marawi City. But she decided to take a very perilous journey, passing by the battle zones, walking, sometimes running, then paused to eat and drink water as gunfire and aerial attacks were happening.

She made it through Marantao from Iligan after eight hours of walking and reunited with her family before fleeing to Balabagan town.

Sampaco said she will gather her pupils in Purakan Elementary School in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur where most of her students are temporarily housed.

”I am not sure yet if we can open classes on Monday, may be within the week we can,” she said.

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