DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED)– Twenty six of the 96 barangays in Marawi City are affected by the sporadic fire fight between the government law enforcers and the ISIS-backed Maute terror group.
As of May 29 the DSWD ARMM reported “Based on the report of the SWADL in different municipalities, there are 12,509 families affected by the clash, of which 1,081 families or 4,278 persons housed in evacuation centers while 10,974 families of 54, 870 individuals are home-based.
The PSWDO ARMM, explained the reason behind the fewer turnouts of IDPs (internally Displaced Persons) inside the evacuation centers is because of Maranao culture sensitivity.
The Maranaos value the culture of helping and close-family ties especially during in crisis situation. Further validation of the home-based evacuees is being conducted.
Marawi has a total land area of 8,755 hectares (21,630 acres), has 96 barangays with a population of 201,765 based on 2015 record of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
It is predominantly a Muslim city (99.6%) where Sharia criminal law exists.
The economy is largely based on agriculture, trading and exporting. Most industries in the city are agriculture-oriented, rice and corn farming.
The National Power Corporation’s (NPC) – Agus 1 Hydro Electric Power Plant and the first of the six cascading Agus Hydro Power is located in marawi.
In he report, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwala stated that the recent encounter between the government forces and Maute terrorist affected the residents of Barangays Marawi Poblacion (Sarimanok Road), Basak Malutlut, Bangon, Tuca, Calocan East, Marinaut West and East, Kilala, Lilud Madaya, and Banggolo in Marawi City.
Many of the affected families fled for safety and found temporarily shelter in their families and friends in the nearby cities of Iligan, Cagayan and in nearby Municipalities of Lanao del Sur.
Several residents evacuated to nearby villages in Iligan and Marawi City, and to municipalities of Saguiaran and Baloi.
Taguiwalo’s report revealed The DSWD identified 11 open evacuation centers which is under closely monitored by the DSWD ARMM, as Marawi City is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and has its own DSWD ARMM.
Through its Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM- HEART), it acts both as first responder and augmentation to the area.
DSWD ARMM as a separate office from DSWD National, it has its own budget. But the central office helps whenever the need arises especially during calamities, whether it be natural or man-made.
There are home-based evacuees while others stay in the evacuation, both will continue to receive family food packs, Taguiwala added.
The DSWD has ten evacuation centers namely: 1. Lanao Del Sur Provincial Capitol Marawi City, 2. Iligan School of Fisheries Gymnasium Iligan City.3. Saguiaran Municipal Hall Saguiaran Municipality, Lanao Del Sur, 4. MSU-IIT CASS Building Iligan City, 5. Gomampong Ali’s Residents Baloi Municipality, Lanao Norte, and 6. People’s Plaza Saguiaran Municipality, 7. Old Madrasa Saguiaran Municipality, 8. Old Masjid Saguiaran Municipality, 9. BFP Office Saguiaran Municipality, 10. DepEd Kinder Room Saguiaran Municipality and, 11. Gomampong Gymnasium Baloi, all in Lanao Del Sur.
The DSWD will also provide assistance to evacuees staying in relative’s houses after undergoing validation as well. The agency issued DAFAC is an identification card used to ensure smoothness in the distribution of goods and services to the IDPs.-Editha Z. Caduaya/newsline.ph
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