MARAWI CITY —– Families displaced by the armed conflict in Marawi City in 2017 planted 168 trees on May 23 inside a permanent housing site in Marawi City to remember and honor the soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the Philippine National Police who died during the five-month siege.
The government, through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, and Marawi City’s local government unit (LGU), decided to plant the trees inside Hadiya Village, where 109 displaced families will live permanently.
Each tree has a name that corresponds to the names of the Marawi heroes, as well as the name of the homeowner who will care for the seedling until it grows.
Families in Hadiya Village are among those who are unable to return to their homes within the most affected area (MAA) because the government declared it a no-build zone because it is within the reclamation area, the easement of Lake Lanao, and the river banks.
BGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, stated that planting trees in honor of fallen heroes is the least they can do to remember those who gave their lives to protect the Islamic City from terrorists.
“As Marawi City celebrates the Week of Peace, Lanao del Sur have had a long history of conflict. The time has come for peace to be given a chance and for Meranao people to enjoy their right to a peaceful life,” Cuerpo said.
The activity was co-sponsored by UN-Habitat, the Department of Education, and a local non-governmental organization called Ranao Watch for Empowerment Network (RAWATEN).
The permanent shelters were built by UN-Habitat with a grant from the Japanese government.
According to Warren Ubongen, UN-Habitat Project Manager, the goal of the tree planting in honor of the fallen heroes is the long-term environmental benefits it will provide to the families who have begun to live and establish a new community.
“This puts into action the UN-Habitat-promoted environmental and social safeguards, which have been integrated as a critical component of the Rebuilding Marawi Project (MRP).” Ubongen said.
Tanjirea Mascara, a teacher who represented the Marawi City Schools Division of the Marawi Operation Center (OPCEN), said they chose Hadiya Village for the tree planting because they saw a need for trees in the area.
“We collaborated with Hadiya homeowners because we know our trees will thrive in the area and be nurtured by them. “We look forward to the residents of Hadiya Village reaping the benefits of having trees in the area – clean oxygen, carbon dioxide storage, soil erosion prevention, and bird habitat,” Mascara said.
The trees can grow tall in three to five years, according to Johary Ayo of RAWATEN, Inc., which obtained the seedlings from Bukidnon.
The Hadiya Village in Barangay Dulay West is the first resettlement site that has been opened and handed over to the beneficiaries for their permanent shelter. It was built by UN-Habitat with funding assistance from the Japanese government on 1.8 hectares of land procured and developed by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).
