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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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MANILA – Some P1,172,725 worth of assistance was provided to people affected by the siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, according to Malacañang.
But the administration may provide more aid by tapping “billions of pesos” in calamity funds, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said.
At least 12,500 families (59,665 people) in Regions 10 and 12 were displaced amid the clash between government forces and the Maute terror group, said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.
The government has a standby P6-billion Quick Response Fund, which may be used in responding to natural or man-made calamities. This is separate from the P15.8-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.
“There is a war being waged on two fronts: the military one and the humanitarian one,” said Recto. “If we are airlifting troops to the frontlines, we must transport help to the civilians in the rear. If the pursuit of terrorists is being done round the clock, the assistance to those caught in the crossfire must be on 24/7 basis, too.”
The senator also urged President Rodrigo Duterte to identify a “rehabilitation point person” for Marawi City.
And to avoid the repeat of the slow rehabilitation after super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, “preparatory activities” must be in place to allow development people to move in as soon as the Marawi crisis is resolved, Recto said.
“Red tape and the submission of voluminous documents must not hamper the flow of aid,” he added. “We must turbocharge the release of aid money. Hindi pwede na ang Marawi ay h-in-ostage na nga ni Hapilon, maho-hostage pa ulit ng red tape.”
On May 23 the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 10 placed a Disaster Operation Center in Iligan City to augment the operation of the DSWD Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Department of Trade and Industry also enforced a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities in regions 9, 10, 11, 12, and Caraga, Abella said. “The price freeze is for a period of 60 days, as indicated in the declaration.”
Abella also assured that there is enough power supply in the region, citing the National Power Corp. Mindanao Generation’s declaration that power plants in Marawi City and Lanao area operate normally.
In addition, checkpoints follow strict protocols and are strictly complied with, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police said.
“Clearing Marawi of militants still in the area, rescuing trapped residents, and recovering civilian casualties and victims are the security forces’ main objectives,” Abella said./PN
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