Repair of Marawi schools starts

LANAO DEL SUR – Classes in more schools in Marawi are expected to resume as the repair and rehabilitation of school buildings damaged in the fighting between Maute militants and government troops has started.

The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will prioritize the repair of seven schools near the main battle area, John Magno, DepEd-ARMM director, said yesterday. At least P34 million was initially allocated for the repair of the said schools. Classes in more than a dozen schools in Marawi resumed last month shortly after President Duterte declared the city liberated from terrorists.

Magno said security forces also approved the resumption of classes at the Matampay, Tampilong, Datu Saber, Basak, Amai Pakpak and Pandi Elementary Schools.

Zenaida Unte, DepEdARMM assistant schools superintendent, said classes at a national high school also resumed recently.

Police and military personnel are securing the reopened schools.

Alfhadar Pajiji, DepEdARMM deputy director, visited Marawi on Wednesday to inspect campuses cleared of booby traps planted by the terrorists.

The fighting in Marawi displaced around 60,000 elementary and high school students. At least 22 schools in the main battle area were destroyed.

Many of those displaced are attending remedial classes at temporary learning centers outside Marawi. The DepEdARMM, Gawad Kalinga and World Food Program of the United Nations have been providing free meals to the students.

“The executive department of ARMM is doing its best to address the problem. The main office of DepEd is also extending its support,” Magno said.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman announced last Monday that the regional government would allocate P930 million for rehabilitation projects in Marawi.

Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, who is also chairman of the Marawi peace and order council, said many evacuees returned to the barangays that were declared safe and cleared of debris.

Gandamra said residents of Barangays Basak Malutlut, Matampay, Panggao Saduc, Datu Saber, Tampilong, Luksadatu, East Basak and Barrio Green have returned to their areas.