78 evacuation centers shelter 3,982 displaced families from Marawi

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July 6, 2017) - Seventy-eight evacuation centers were established by the government within the provinces of Mindanao to cater to the needs of thousands of families who were displaced after terrorist Maute Group stormed and attacked the city, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that since May 23, this year, a total of 18,335 displaced persons, belonging to 3,982 families, are currently being sheltered in 78 evacuation centers in Mindanao, 34 of which are located in the nearby provinces of Lanao del Norte, one in Misamis Occidental, and 43 in Lanao del Sur, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Records also show that 70,895 home-based, displaced families, or 335,064 persons, stayed in 409 barangays in seven regions in Mindanao.

In Lanao del Norte, five (5) evacuation centers in Iligan City cater to 787 families, 11 in Baloi cater to 1,608 families, 17 in Pantao Ragat cater to 367 families, and one center caters to 110 families.

In Misamis Occidental, one evacuation center caters to four families in Cagayan de Oro.

In Lanao del Sur, one evacuation center in Bacolod-Kalawi caters to 22 families, two in Balindong cater to 32 families, two in Balabagan cater to 24 families, four in Calanogas cater to 19 families, eight in Ditsaan-Ramain cater to 125 families, six in Kapatagan cater to 77 families, one in Madalum caters to eight families, four in Madamba cater to four families, two in Malabang cater to 101 families, two in Mulondo cater to 15 families, one in Pagayawan caters to 60 families, one in Picong caters to 13 families, one in Poona Bayabao caters to 72 families, and eight in Saguiran cater to 607 families.

Cpt Petinglay said that as the troops of the Western Mindanao Command intensify the offensives against the remaining terrorist group in Marawi, government agencies also continue to generate means and programs in order to support the displaced persons in all evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the whole of the AFP is preparing to take on a huge role in the rehabilitation of Marawi City. AFP Engineering units will be made to augment government engineering manpower that will work on the rehabilitation of the city, she added.

"While our forces are clearing Marawi, more than half of the AFP's engineering capabilities will be deployed for the reconstruction, rebuilding and rehabilitation of the Marawi City," says Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

"This is part of the rehabilation plan of the national government to fully bring back the vibrant economy of Marawi." The AFP engineer units construct projects in conflict affected areas or places which civilian construction companies cannot penetrate.

 "This is a testament of the government's resolve to fully rehabilitate Marawi and help our Maranao brothers and sisters stand and rebuild the city," says Lieutenant General Galvez.