WHERE’S THE RELIEF?

Some Marawi evacuees now in Cebu tell assemblyman they haven’t received help the national government promised them Task Force Bangon Marawi will sort this out, Assemblyman Adiong promises during consultation in Cebu

Lawmaker’s dialogue with displaced citizens from Marawi reveals that a big number did not get help

At least 1,000 out of more than 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City who relocated to Cebu complained that some of them have not received aid that was supposed to be provided to them by the National Government.

In a dialogue with IDPs in Cebu City yesterday, Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong (ARMM, Lanao del Sur) said they plan to report to Task Force Bangon Marawi the concerns of IDPs who have relocated to Cebu following the Marawi siege.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 also plans to verify the complaints of the IDPs from Marawi City.

Adiong, a member of the Marawi Crisis Management Committee, said he has received reports that some of the IDPs who moved to Cebu have not received their aid.

Majority of those who com- plained claimed they were registered before the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and DSWD.

Adiong said that IDPs who relocated to Cebu and other provinces outside Marawi City were entitled to a “green card,” which entitles them to receive weekly food packages from the DSWD.

Adiong said the problem could have been solved through coordination between the IDPs and government agencies.

Another look

Malo Manonggiring, NCMF Central Visayas director, said they plan to address the concern of the IDPs who were not registered and have not been given aid.

Manonggiring admitted that even before Adiong’s visit yesterday, they have received numerous complaints from IDPs on the lack of aid from DSWD.

Manonggiring said there is a possibility that some IDPs who arrived in Cebu may have coordinated with their office but was not listed with the DSWD.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi who relocated to Cebu were entitled to a ‘green card’ that will allow them to receive weekly food packages from the DSWD. But at least 1,000 of the 2,000 IDPs have not received any.

The NCMF plans to conduct re-profiling of the IDPs, especially those who weren’t registered before DSWD.

In a separate interview, DSWD 7 Public Information Officer Leah Quintana said she plans to clarify with their focal person on the complaint lodged by the IDPs.

Quintana said that since Sept. 13, they have registered around 1,148 IDPs currently living in Cebu City.

They plan to coordinate with the Cebu City Social Welfare Office on the matter as they were the ones who initiated the registration of IDPs in Cebu.

Meanwhile, Adiong said that with the end of the Marawi crisis last month, they are now maximizing their efforts to ensure that the early rehabilitation and recovery process of the city goes smoothly and swiftly.

Adiong said they are hoping for an uninterrupted rehabilitation and recovery process in Marawi City to prevent extremist groups from taking advantage of those who were affected by the conflict. /