SOME 30 percent of Marawi City’s war-torn areas have been cleared of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices left by ISIS-inspired terrorist groups, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Sunday.
In a statement, Joint Task Force Marawi deputy commander and spokesman, Col. Romeo Brawner, said the clearing operations were being conducted by the military’s Joint Engineer Task Group.
“The JETG continues its main mission of clearing explosives, completing around 30 percent of the most affected area,” said JETG head Major Gen. Arnold Rafael Depakakibo.
As of Dec. 15, 2,853 assorted unexploded had been recovered and disarmed by the JETG, with the support of the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Company and K-9 Teams from the Philippine Army and Philippines Air Force.
Depakakibo said the JETG also completed the clearing of 20 kilometers of roads, three major bridges, a school and three places of worship immediately after the liberation of Marawi.
That had resulted in the timely conduct of post-conflict needs assessment by the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said.
“We also continue our limited construction support to the government agencies involved in supporting the maintenance of evacuation centers,” Depakakibo said.
Aside from construction support, the JETG also assisted the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in the construction of 500 temporary shelters for the evacuees.
Of that number, 250 units were given last week while the other 250 will be provided next month.
More than 500 military engineers are deployed in Marawi City as part of the JETG. The task group is supporting the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi that is being led by Task Force Bangon Marawi.
Aside from manpower, the AFP has used its construction vehicles and equipment to clear rubbles and debris and to demolish buildings in the city.