THE rehabilitation work in Marawi City will focus on the repair of basic services as the neutralization of the remaining Maute group terrorists is just a matter of time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday.
Basic services refer to electrical power, water, sanitation, health and education, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
“The primary attention and focus for the rehabilitation, of course, will go to the basic services initially,” Padilla said.
He made his statement even as the Customs officials and employees detailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been raising money to help the families affected by the armed conflict in Marawi City.
The bureau, according to Naia-Customs Special Deputy Collector Norsalem Raymond Mama-o, has raised P480,000 since the program to collect donations started last month.
The initial cash donations from 458 Customs personnel will be sent to the evacuation centers in Mindanao.
Various agencies and local government units in Metro Manila have already sent cash and other assistance to Marawi City, which was declared under the state of calamity by the municipal and provincial governments in Lanao del Sur.
Mama-o said the money will be delivered to deserving recipients in various evacuation centers in Sagularan, Baloi and Iligan City.
“It’s our way of helping our brothers in Marawi and at the same time our little own way of showing our support to our commissioner,” he said.
Padilla said once the fighting is over, government agencies along with other stakeholders will work so that the basic services can be restored immediately.
He said the Department of Education is now coordinating with military engineers on where they will be placing the materials that will be used in the rehabilitation of the schools damaged in Marawi.
“They are also working with other contractors to make sure that as soon as the coast is clear and the signal is given, many of these materials that will be used for the reconstruction and repair of the schools in Marawi will be among the first items that will comprise the convoy for the full recovery efforts,” Padilla said.
And as of 6 p.m. Sunday, the Maute group terrorists killed in the ongoing military operations totaled 379, with the civilians executed by the lawless elements reaching 39, and government casualties 89.
The number of rescued civilians has been placed at 1,723 and captured terrorists weaponry at 451. With Joel E. Zurbano