Marawi LGU bares schedules of IDPs return to Marawi

ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL YAHYA

Marawi City, Philippines

October 29, 2017

Mayor Gandamra in a file photo.

The local government unit of the Islamic City of Marawi bared the dates when internally displaced persons (IDPs) are to return to the sieged city particularly in the cleared nine barangays after the government declared Marawi liberated from terror groups.

Dubbed as "Kambalingan ago Kaisa-isa ko Kalilintad” (Return and Unity for Peace), City hall official Katty Gandamra said in a Facebook post that the return will not mean a simultaneous return of residents in all barangays. 

"It will happen at staggered bases as more and more barangays are in the process of being readied for its residents to return as time and circumstances permit," said Gandamra.

Last October 27, City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra led what he called a historic caravan from Iligan City to the Islamic city in preparation of the forthcoming return of evacuees from the sieged city.

Katty Gandamra revealed the following schedules for the nine barangays as follows:

October 29, 2017 - RETURN TO BASAK MALUTLUT;

October 30, 2017 - House Cleaning of Marawi Poblacion and East Basak; 

October 31, 2017 - RETURN TO MARAWI POBLACION AND EAST BASAK; House Cleaning of Loks a Datu and B.O. Green;

November 1, 2017 - RETURN TO LOKS A DATU AND B.O. GREEN; House Cleaning of Tampilong and Matampay

November 2, 2017 - RETURN TO TAMPILONG AND MATAMPAY; House Cleaning of Brgy. Saber

November 3, 2017 - RETURN TO BRGY. SABER

House Cleaning of Panggao Saduc;

November 4, 2017 - RETURN TO PANGGAO SADUC.

Gandamra said the schedule for the next clusters will be posted soon.

The Kambalingan is structured into three phases namely the preparation phase, the return of the residents, and the efforts to sustain a decent quality of life for the returnees so that they can slowly rebuild their communities.

The first phase involves preparing the communities for the residents’ safe return. 

The Brigada Marawi teams are in charge of cleaning up the communities before the return. 

BLGUs and CSWD are responsible for the community mapping and enlisting or registering returnees. 

The needed facilities such as water and electricity and health services shall be in place before the return. 

The residents will also be prepared emotionally and physically through medical outreach programs and psychosocial help. 

Rolling stores and markets will be established to provide basic needs. 

Means of public transportation within the areas will be made available to provide mobility; and, BPAT along with police and military will help keep the safety and order of the place.

In the second phase, the residents will make the trip home to their barangays with the help and guidance of their respective Punong Barangays, with free transportation from the evacuation centers. The CSWD will give pabaon upon arrival to Marawi (4,000Php if the family has received the 1,000Php previously and 5,000Php if they had not) . A whole month’s worth of food rations will also be given to each family. Other services needed will be provided.

The third phase involves sustained efforts to create a good quality of life in the community. Livelihood opportunities will be provided to the best of the City Government’s ability and with the help of the different local and national agencies, so that residents can earn while in their respective barangays. Some regulations and rules have to be implemented once the communities are occupied by the returnees. These include special passes, no wearing of helmets (if on motorcycles) a 30 kph speed limit for vehicles on the streets and no crossing of the three city bridges to Ground Zero. A curfew is to be imposed. Returnees are not allowed to go out of their houses from 9PM to 5AM, and are not be allowed to go to other barangays which are not yet open for visitation. Relatives who wish to reside with a Returnee shall only be allowed when the residents of the barangay are completely settled, and will need certifications by both barangay chairman of the place of origin (ground zero or other municipalities/cities) and the barangay chairman of the target community.

Meanwhile, Gandamra emphasized that NO FEES ARE TO BE CHARGED FOR CERTIFICATIONS.

For inquiries, please contact:

HOTLINE: TEL. NO. 224-6415

CELL. NO. 09956320858

LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY. 09151852338

With your support and cooperation, Marawi City can be rebuilt! (with story from @Katty Gandamra)