THE Davao City Deputy Mayor of Maranao Tribe, Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce, together with the members of Philippine Councilors League gave medicines and clothing to evacuees now situated at the neighboring towns of Marawi on Saturday, June 24.
Maranao Tribe Deputy Mayor Gapor "Randy" A. Usman, Al Haj in a phone interview with SunStar Davao on Sunday, June 25, said that they have personally delivered the medicines, which were given by Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte to the Municipalities of Malabang and Balindog in Lanao del Sur.
“Vice mayor Paolo Duterte sent 200 pieces of each kind of medicine like mansanilla, diatabs, paracetamol,” Usman said.
He said they divided these medicines for the separate evacuation centers in Malabang and Balindog.
Usman said Malabang evacuation center is occupied by an estimated 2,000 families, while the Balindog evacuation center is occupied with an estimated number of 3,000 families.
He said that some Philippine Councilor League members, led by Councilor Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, gave malongs, Muslim clothes, and prayer mats.
Usman said the donation was received by the representatives from Department of Social Welfare and Developmen (DSWD).
He said they were able to enter the areas through proper coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPPAP) Dickson Hermoso.
“May coordination with the military na dadaan kami, walang harang,” he said.
He said it could be harder for them if they will pass through normal checkpoints.
He said their caravan left Davao City at 2:30 a.m. last June 24 and they have arrived in Malabang around 8 a.m.
Usman said the said joint effort of giving assistance to evacuees is to show that Christians and Muslims are united in their cause to help those who are affected by the war.
He added that food packs were also given to the families of those who are hospitalized in Malabang.