THE Department of Health has received P350 million in quick release funds, in addition to the almost P137 million the agency has spent for infrastructure rehabilitation efforts in war-ravaged Marawi City.
In an interview on dzBB on Saturday, DOH OIC-Secretary Herminigildo Valle said the amount for infrastructure rehabilitation would mostly come from Task Force Bangon Marawi, but a part of it would be contributed by the DOH.
He said the amount would be used for rehabilitating partially and completely damaged buildings.
The DOH is part of the inter-agency task force created by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts for Marawi.
Task Force Bangon Marawi is headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Valle added the Amai Pakpak Medical Center, located at “ground zero” of the siege, was already in operation, and its some 120 staff members were conducting medical care functions such as surgeries, dialysis and intensive care.
Additionally, the officer-in-charge said he had oriented the health workers at the hospital to “understand” and “anticipate the need to provide medical care” that would be needed in time for the return of the city’s displaced residents.
Staff shortage is being augmented by health workers from different regions, Valle said.
Meanwhile, a total 22 public schools in Marawi City were totally damaged by the war that lasted over four months, a Department of Education official said Saturday.
DepEd Undersecretary Alain del Pascua, in an interview on dzBB, said the affected school buildings were either hit by bombs or were burned.
Schools totally destroyed are in the main battle area, Pascua added.
DepEd authorities are still determining the extent of the damage to the 22 schools.
Last July, the DepEd reported that 10 schools were destroyed just over month into the Marawi siege, and that repairs could cost up to P800 million.