By Richel Umel/Philippine News Agency
MARAWI CITY — Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) is eyeing to transfer about 1,500 residents from evacuation camps to temporary shelters by September this year.
During Friday’s turn-over ceremony, TBFM Chairman Eduardo del Rosario said President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the TFBM to provide full assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The occupants of the temporary shelter in Baganga village consists of 60 percent of those still living in the evacuation center who were residents of the Marawi siege’s Most Affected Area (MAA); at least 40 percent of the evacuees are considered “home-stays.”
Del Rosario, who is also chief of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council, said evacuees from the MAA who live in tents cities will be given PHP73,000 allowance package while the “home-stays” will receive PHP20,000.
There are only three remaining evacuation centers occupied by IDPs: Buadi Itowa, the Sarimanok Tent City, and the evacuee camps at the Provincial Capitol complex.
“By the end of September, we hope to see that the 1,500 remaining IDPs will no longer live in evacuation centers and start their new life in temporary shelters,” Del Rosario said.
Sahana Pamblia, 28, a mother of three, said she was happy that after two years living “miserably” in tents, her family can now transfer to a better place.
“We lived in a tent in Barangay Buadi. It was hot at daytime, and cold in the evening. We do receive help from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), though,” Pamblia said.
Director Mari Flor A. Dollaga-Libang of DSWD-Region 10 said the allowance package for IDPs was part of the government’s Transitory Family Support Package and the Livelihood Settlement Grant.
Libang said DSWD started distributing the payouts on April 6 and will continue until May 29 for the 24 barangays inside the MAA.
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