ARMM spends P35-M for Marawi humanitarian aid

COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said it has spent over P35 million in humanitarian aid for the victims of the Marawi City crisis. The expenditure covers urgent relief for over 200,000 individuals now based in evacuation centers, staying in their relatives’ houses, or temporarily sheltered in the region’s operation center.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the aid is aimed at meeting the growing humanitarian needs of communities struggling with the current situation in Marawi City. “We need to help ease the burden and alleviate the suffering of the people of Marawi. The city is part of the ARMM,” he said.

Hataman said current funds from the regional government can still respond to the needs of the evacuees. He said the government has so far allocated about P77 million for the victims of the crisis.

Latest update from the ARMM’S crisis management committee indicated the regional government served relief packs to 200,234 evacuees and provided medical services to 4,003 individuals. The committee responds to the emergency needs of the Marawi residents through a 24/7 emergency helpline.

During the threeweek battle between government troops and local terrorist groups, the committee managed to save more than 5,132 trapped, or stranded, civilians in Marawi’s war zone, while 1,079 civilians are still inside the battle zone and need to be rescued immediately.

The ARMM’S Health department, meanwhile, has set up an operation center in Iligan City to provide medical assistance to the evacuees. To ensure equal and timely relief distribution to individuals struggling with the situation in Marawi City, the ARMM uses a system dubbed Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (DAFAC).

The system is applied by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to validate the status of families affected by the crisis, which will serve as a reference in the provision of appropriate interventions.

The DAFAC, ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia noted, will also be used in future rehabilitation and recovery programs for Marawi City. “We are encouraging residents of Marawi City, whether staying in the evacuation centers or not, to register with their social welfare office,” Atty. Alamia added.

The DSWD-ARMM, is the lead agency manning the operation center established in the municipality of Malabang in Lanao del Sur.