IT IS a gigantic task to rehabilitate Marawi City. Practically, the whole city is devastated with the continuous bombing of set targets. Fires and conflagration are experienced daily. A few remaining barangays are the only habitable areas. Houses were burned and the few remaining had been burglarized. The last few Maute members seek shelter in the mosques to be saved.
The present regime is estimating the total cost of rehabilitation done by the agency on financing. It has to be done to rebuild the progressive hub of commerce near the world famous Lake Lanao. A senator had offered his sponsorship to present the plan to rebuild Marawi City with Lake Lanao as a tourist destination to regain its past wealth and metropolitan city.
The series of activities for the planning group are the estimated cost of rehabilitation; the methodology of each step; the feasibility study, and the final step to actualize each of these. To build an entirely new city is top in the minds of the organizers. They map out the short and long term goals and the possible implications to be met.
One significant step for rehabilitation is the program for all the "bakwits" or refugees in the settlement areas where they are sardine-packed. Supply of food, basic needs as clothing, medicines for health and sanitation. Valid Identification cards are required from each person to be carried at all times. Families are united for many. Some lost contact with parents or children. Volunteer workers attend to their needs. Calming them, psychologists give debriefing sessions to reduce anxiety and worries. Entertaining programs can be held to relax them. One successful solution was to gather all who have relatives in Davao City to be brought there to live with relatives or rent rooms.
Many are getting sick and need medical assistance. Many die and they say more die here than in the battles in Marawi. Children can enroll in any school and no one should be rejected as per instruction of Department of Education. Parents are given opportunities to have some business they can have to earn money. As the battle in Marawi is raging, there are "peace corridors" in selected areas where refugees can safely escape to go to settlement areas. Other residents prefer to stay in their houses to prevent looting
Marawi evacuees reach as far as Cebu. A clan of Muslims had their work in Cebu while the rest stay in their ancestral home in Marawi. The anxiety of separation and war had a toll on them. Their eldest member died and returning to Marawi from Cebu was an ordeal. When the clan was all safe they thank Allah in their ancestral home. Among the tribal groups there are 50 Indigenous People (IPs) who finished their special training to earn a living. From the basic basket weaving, costume accessories, they learned modern arts but never to lose or change their customs and native costumes. Modernizations must not be in conflict with their native traditions.
Alarming is the news that there are about 1,000 Islamic State groups operating in the Philippines. About 40 of them came from Indonesia. The Philippine Armed forces do not believe this. I am for vigilance at all times. Report to authorities the moment you see them in your locality. Any activities of terrorists must be nipped at the buds before they can do harm to our peaceful nation. A final word from our President spells hope. The country is well and stable. Our armed forces are geared to defend any part of our country from terrorists. His war with drugs, corruption, lawlessness are all on alert status. It will take a long time to rebuild the ruined Marawi City but it has to be done.
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