The continuing military offensives against the ISIS-linked Maute group and Abu Sayyaf in Marawi has taken its toll on the thousands of residents who, due to fear, hurriedly left their abode and livelihood for safety. (Alexander Lopez/davaotoday.com photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines— Task Force Bangon Marawi reported a total of of 90,867 medical consultations and 320,800 nutrition services provided for residents of Marawi City who have been displaced by the ongoing war between government forces and Islamic State-linked militants.
During the regular “Mindanao Hour,” Task Force Bangon Marawi Assistant Secretary Toby Purisima said on Monday, October 2, relief distributions from government and non-governmental organizations reached both home-based evacuees and those at evacuation centers.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has provided training tools and materials as part of the agency’s effort to teach the evacuees about business and livelihood, Purisima added.
He cited that in Cagayan de Oro, a total of 40 internally displaced persons (IDPs) obtained sets of sewing materials and underwent training on dressmaking through the assistance of Skills Mastery Institute.
Purisima said DTI handed almost 40 kilograms of garments to IDPs to be used for clothing production. Their first batch of garments generated total sales of P71,185 from August 15 to September 10, he added.
The products were displayed at Robinsons Iligan Pasalubong Center and at the Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair in Cagayan de Oro City.
To increase police visibility, the Philippine National Police set up posts near evacuation centers and deployed policewomen trained in counter-violent extremism at selected evacuation centers for monitoring and patrolling, Purisima said.
He cited that while the construction of transitional shelters is ongoing, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council planned to install water system at the site in December. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Land Registration Authority will conduct a survey on the construction of transitional shelters, he added.
Some food packs and clothing come from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), while fun kits, hygiene kits, slippers, and snacks for the displaced children in Iligan City were from the Junior Chamber International Philippines and Junior Chamber International Iligan, Purisima said. (davaotoday.com)
