COTABATO CITY, Philippines — About 4,000 internally displaced persons in Marawi received medical and relief goods from the one day outreach mission conducted by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Monday.
The outreach mission was held the day when residents returned to their homes in Barangay Basak Malutlut, Marawi City.
The village was the venue of the first day of battle between the government forces and the Islamic State inspired Maute terrorist on May 23.
The villagers returned after the the government declared the entire Marawi City cleared from terrorist elements.
The ARMM polled all line agencies to participate in the outreach program aimed at helping the returning residents establish a new home after everything was ruined.
ARMM Governnor Mujiv Hataman in his message delivered during the flag-raising ceremony Monday, October 30 emphasized “Despite our current situation, let us remember that a new opportunity can and will always present itself even in times of crisis.”
“This is not the time to blame each other for the things that have happened, but a time for us to work together towards rebuilding and rehabilitation,” Hataman added.
For his part, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra was happy to note that his constituents are gradually returning to their places “There is so much things that we need to do, we need to unite ourselves and bring back the old Marawi, this time, a peaceful and stronger Marawi City.”
“I now ask everybody here to unite, to work and live for peace,” he said.
A symbolic prayer activity also highlighted Monday’s event in the city for its liberation from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
This developed as 12 public schools in Marawi have resumed classes shortly after the liberation of the city from the clasp of the terrorists. The schools included Sultan Conding Elementary School, Sikap Elementary School, Cabingan Primary School, Banga Elementary School, Datu Tambak Elementary School, Rorogagus Elementary School, Bito Elementary School, Pendolonan Elementary School, Abdulazis Elementary School, Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School, Sugod Elementary School, and Mipaga Elementary School.
Rehabilitation efforts for schools damaged by the fighting are underway, so as to the psychological and social needs of the students.
The city of Marawi is the capital of Lanao del Sur, a province component of the ARMM. Other component areas of ARMM are the city of Lamitan and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Basilan.-Editha Z. Caduaya with reports from ARMM Information Bureau
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