MANILA -- The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) on Friday, January 5, trumpeted the early recovery accomplishments of the different government agencies on the ongoing rehabilitation of Marawi City.
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario, who also heads the TFBM, cited the latest interventions undertaken by the Duterte administration in rebuilding the war-torn city in a video he showed during the Bangon Marawi press briefing in Malacañang.
In terms of housing, the National Housing Authority (NHA) turned over the initial 500 transitional shelters for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Barangay Sagonsongan in Marawi City, while the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) gave out 300 temporary housing units in the Municipality of Matungao, Lanao del Norte.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, have partnered to provide massive skills training and pre-employment assistance program. They awarded toolkits for 2,615 IDPs of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.
The Skills Training Court was established to benefit 39 local government units (LGUs) in Lanao del Sur, with project assistance worth P2.5-million per municipality. A total of P188.45-million was also set aside for the training of residents in construction work under the Emergency Skills Training Program for the reconstruction of Marawi. Certificates of Scholarship Commitment from the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA) were awarded for 10,000 trainees.
Furthermore, the returning IDPs were provided with “Kambalingan Packages” by the DSWD, which was composed of family food packs, hygiene kits, and P5,000 financial assistance.
The Department of Education (DepEd) distributed 4,500 learner's kits and 1,300 teacher's kits.
In terms of food security, the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed 60 units of fiberglass boats through its "Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa" project; post-harvest equipment, such as tractors, harvesters, and water pumps; and fertilizers and high-value rice and corn seeds worth P3.6-million.
"So from what you can see, basically are the interventions being undertaken by the different departments of government. So these are the inter-agency convergence, and this will form part of the early recovery interventions by the national government as well as the local government," Del Rosario said.
"(W)hile undertaking early recovery interventions, we are now setting the process for the eventual implementation of the real rehabilitation," he added, referring to the actual ground works of ground zero or the most affected area.
Also discussed during the press briefing were the initial results of the Post Conflict Needs Assessment (PCNA). As of date, total damage was over 11.61-billion pesos; while total loses was over 6.6-billion pesos. The initial estimate of total needs was 49.81-billion pesos.
'Trade and livelihood assistance accomplishments'
In the same press briefing, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez also reported his department's accomplishments in the Marawi rehabilitation efforts.
In terms of access to livelihood programs, the DTI gave out livelihood equipment, sewing machines for garment manufacturing, tools for electricians and carpenters, sari-sari store kits, mobile rice mills, and 11 Kia Bonggo drop-side trucks.
It also provided employment opportunities, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the ‘Tulong Panghanap-Buhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers’ (TUPAD) program, where 2,054 beneficiaries in Marawi had been benefitted.
"Itong eco-zone ay isang program na wino-workout namin with General Del Rosario kung saan mag-a-identify tayo ng isang eco-zone na para makaimbita rin tayo noong mga kompanya, manufacturing facility na for employment," Lopez added.
On the market access, the DTI provided rolling stores and promoted Marawi products through trade fairs, and soon would be putting up commissaries to avert any shortages of basic commodities.
For financial access, the DTI developed a retail financing scheme where Marawi entrepreneurs could have access to Islamic micro-finance and Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.) financing programs.
"Moving forward also, we are realigning some of our budgets. We tried to include also in the Bangon Marawi fund other budgets for our other program. So in other words, mas maraming rice meal, KIA Bongo, hollow blocks makers, mga kiosks na ating ilalaan para sa Bangon Marawi program," Lopez said. (PCOO)
