The Office of Civil Defense on Monday said that it expects a complete turnover of transitional shelters to displaced residents from Marawi City before Christmas.
“Definitely,” said Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, who added that the continuous construction of transitional shelters is “on target” to be finished as soon as possible.
“Basta may matapos ng significant number of transitional shelters, ita-transfer na natin sila palabas ng evacuation centers papunta doon sa transitional shelter site,” said Purisima.
The National Housing Authority is expected to finish the first portion of the project, which include 1,500 transitional shelters within the time allotted, Purisima added.
He said that the relief assistance to internally displaced people continues and will not stop even if the fighting ends.
“We’re prepared to stretch our resources and to augment our resources as needed,” said Purisima.
“Hindi tayo titigil kahit tumagal pa o malapit ng matapos ang kaguluhan sa Marawi ‘no. Hindi natin ito tinitingnan basta patuloy ang ating focus sa ating mga IDPs,” he added.
Purisima made the assurance as President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated what was described as a “green community” for IDPs of Marawi City, most of whom have been living in tents in different evacuation centers since May.
Dubbed “Bahay Pag-asa,” the project was initiated by the Tarlac Heritage Foundation which collaborated with government and private individuals following the President’s call for help to rebuild and restore Marawi back to its former glory.
Duterte, who visited Marawi for the fifth time on Monday, inaugurated the temporary shelters which provided liveable housing facility than the tents most of the evacuees are occupying now in different evacuation centers.
“Government and private individuals have come together in the spirit of “Bayanihan” to develop a local home grown alternative to a disaster relief tents. For the Filipino, the Bahay Kubo is home. Something we have fond memories of or have grown up with or one that has local color while being functional and easily adaptable,” said Isa Cojuangco-Suntay, one of THF’s co-founders.
The shelters, which could be fabricated and sourced locally whenever a need for them arises is situated in Barangay Bito Buadi Itowa in Marawi.
The 1.5 hectares green community also has solar panels installed to enable occupants to use electric fans during hot weather condition, run a radio and charge their cellphones to help keep people connected.
Officials are working on a possibility of adding an inverter to enable television sets to work.
The community also has a 500 sq. m garden where soldiers using seeds given by private organizations have already planted different organic vegetables and some medicinal plants.
“Everything is environment friendly,” Suntay said.
She added that some businessmen were among the “generous donors” who worked with her and her mother “to help make this project a reality.”
“They helped us without asking anything in return. They lent their helping hands when they heard the President’s call for bayanihan to help rebuild Marawi,” she said.
Also in the same briefing, Purisima said the government continues to provide trainings and livelihood for IDPs to help them recover from the Marawi siege.
Psychosocial intervention like art and play therapy, and health intervention such as water, sanitation, and hygiene services are also being conducted for the moral and psychosocial recuperation of the displaced Marawi residents.
IDPs likewise continue to get relief supplies consist of hygiene kits, clothing, food and slippers from government and other non-governmental organizations, he added.