Malacañang on Friday, September 22, stressed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Marawi City earlier this week is an indication that the ongoing war in the Islamic City is nearing its end.
President Duterte conducted his fifth visit to Marawi City last Thursday (September 21).
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in a regular Mindanao Hour briefing in Malacañan, said the President’s latest visit energized the troops “to finish the fight and to liberate Marawi at the soonest possible time.”
Abella noted that the presence of the media during the President’s latest visit to the troops was an indication of the “continuously improving conditions on the ground.”
Abella further reiterated the Commander-in-Chief’s announcement that martial law in Mindanao will be lifted as soon as the clearing operations are completed and Marawi City is fully liberated from the Maute terrorists.
As the situation in Marawi gradually improves, the rehabilitation and recovery phase for the Islamic City is now in the works, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Spokesperson Romina Marasigan said.
Marasigan said the development of the transitional shelter site for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is currently ongoing, with access roads to the transitional shelter site now completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
She said their goal is to rebuild a community in the war-torn area in order to bring back a semblance of normalcy in the lives of the displaced Filipinos.
Common facilities like mosques, madrasah, outposts, livelihood centers, recreational facilities, and police and barangay outposts will be constructed in the transitional shelter site, Marasigan said.
According to Marasigan, the IDPs have chosen a steel wall sandwich model for the transitional shelters.
“This is a pre-fabricated house which is single detached, with toilet and bath. And they are also having a 22 square meters area. But the lot area would be 54 square meters,” she said.
To date, a total of 1,100 approved shelters for the initial 10-hectare land will be built in the transitional site. Marasigan said the government is also looking into other areas where additional shelters can be built to cater to more IDPs.
“Hopefully, by the end of this year, meron na tayong mga pamilya na nakatira na sa ating mga transitional shelters,” she said.
The government has likewise organized a livelihood expo at the end of the year for the IDPs.
“On business and livelihood, our IDPs will have a chance to showcase their products at the Noel Bazaar. This is a Christmas expo which will be held at the World Trade Center. A Bangon Marawi pavilion shall be put up during the fair dates of November 16 to 19 and November 24 to 30,” Marasigan said.
She added that the Department of Trade and Industry will assist in the presentations of their packaging and labeling of products.
Palace lauds peaceful “National Day of Protest”
Meanwhile, Spokesperson Abella extended the Palace’s gratitude to the public for making the first National Day of Protest “generally peaceful and orderly.”
“There were no untoward incidents. And also, most of the discourse was regarding people’s issues and most of it was not regarding personalities,” Abella said.
He said the focus of the rallies last Thursday elevated the quality of public discourse in the country.
“Aside from a small group that burnt effigies, it was basically issue-oriented,” he said.
Abella then called on the public to continue taking part in good governance.
“Good governance, as we all know it, is a two-way process. And as we demand good leaders, we must likewise show that we are good citizens as well,” Abella said.
“This message was clearly sent across and heard by everyone. I believe people cooperated along that line. And that’s our take away,” he added. ###PND
