by Claire R. Gigje
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The city government here through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), the National Housing Authority (NHA), and the 553rd Engineer Battalion, led the transfer of at least 42 families or 279 individuals from Bakwit Village in Matungao town in Lanao del Norte province to Dulay Transitory Shelter in Barangay Dulay Proper, here.
CSWDO OIC Rismirah Adap said the recently relocated IDPs were the last batch living in a temporary site in Lanao del Norte province.
She said upon the departure of the villagers, the Local Government of Matungao closed the village, and the city government here assumed that no more IDPs are living in that area. Adap also shared that such IDPs were supposedly transferred in 2021, but due to inevitable circumstances, the event did not push through.
She said the transfer this time was already realized due to the demand of the residents, after noting that the set term of a five-year stay at Bakwit Village has already come to an end.
Addressing this concern, the city government here accordingly prioritized their situation, thus, the initiative of relocating the IDPs to Dulay Transitory Shelter so that they would have new houses even after they vacate their places in Matungao town.
Adap made it clear that they thought this move was a good one because they can now easily get in touch with the people who were moved because they are already in the city.
“Ang kaibahan is nasa jurisdiction na sila ng Marawi. Ibig sabihin, as to communication at pag-uusap, medyo mas madali (The difference is they are in the jurisdiction of Marawi. This means that communication and conversion are somehow easy),” she said.
Adap conveyed her gratitude to the LGU-Matungao for keeping the IDPs within its vicinity for five years. She also expressed her thanks to their constituents, who have stayed by the government’s side since the siege in 2017 until now.
With that, Adap guaranteed that the city government is always ready to respond to the necessities of its people, especially the IDPs.
“Always tayong nandito. Hindi man agaran at 100% but nandito lang tayo para palaging tumulong (We are always here. Even if it is not instant or 100%, we are always here to help),” she said.
Apart from the transportation and physical assistance, relocating IDPs also received essential kits, food packs, and 25-kilo sacks of rice from the Bangsamoro region’s Ministry of Social Services and Development. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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