With Marawi fighting still on, Duterte wants rehab rushed

Houses destroyed or damaged in Marawi City —JEOFFREY MAITEM

With the fighting in Marawi City expected to be over soon, President Duterte has directed government agencies preparing the rehabilitation plans for the war-ravaged city to pick up the pace to ensure these would be ready for implementation.

Malacañang said Mr. Duterte met with the officials of the concerned agencies in Malacañang on Wednesday and sought the completion of the plans. He also stressed the need for the continuous provision of basic needs such as food and clean water to the affected families.

The agencies represented were the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, National Housing Authority (NHA), Local Water Utilities Administration and Home Development Mutual Fund.

Mr. Duterte told the officials that once the fighting between government forces and pro-Islamic State (IS) extremists was over, the recovery efforts for Marawi would be a purely “civilian endeavor,” according to a Malacañang statement.

He also assured them that he would seek the realignment of the budget to provide for the needs of each department in relation to the rebuilding of Marawi.

The construction of temporary shelters for the affected families is expected to begin next month. NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said they would prioritize the shelters for the 4,900 families in evacuation centers.

The DSWD continues to provide goods to the displaced Marawi residents staying in evacuation centers, according to Undersecretary Hope Hervilla.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the DTI also distributed to the affected families livelihood equipment, such as sewing machines and clothing materials.

Another 100 sewing machines, donated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, would be distributed, Lopez added. The DTI is also looking to host a job fair for the displaced residents.

The government would build temporary marketplaces in Iligan City so that the evacuees could put up their own stores.