PH cities start fund drive for Marawi

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) on Thursday began a fund drive for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, ground zero of ongoing clashes between government troops and members of the Islamic State-backed Maute group. Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, LCP president, kicked off the campaign with a P500,000 donation handed to Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra. Pamintuan said Gandamra could tap funds from the conditional matching grand program for road repair, rehabilitation and improvement under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. In Bulacan province, the local Muslim community also initiated a relief campaign for victims of the Marawi attack. Yahya Gamor, head of the Bulacan Muslim affairs consultative council based in Malolos City, said donors from Bulacan could call 0916-5901245. Those from Metro Manila can give through Norma Lodge 2972 on Park Avenue Extension in Pasay City or call 0926-6768138. Gamor can be contacted at 0916-5901245. —TONETTE OREJAS AND CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE