THE government will turn over on Wednesday afternoon, December 27, the first 500 units of temporary shelters to displaced residents of Marawi City, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said.
Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will personally spearhead the turnover ceremony.
The first batch of temporary houses are located in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.
Another 300 temporary housing units in Matungao, Lanao Del Norte, constructed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), will be turned over to the affected residents next.
The turnover ceremony will be held about two months after the military ended combat operations in Marawi following its liberation from the Maute terrorists who had laid siege to the city while government troops were hunting down terrorist leader Isnilon Hapilon.
“This afternoon, the President will turn over 500 units of housing in Sagonsongan. This is only the first of temporary housing units we will be transferring to the people of Marawi as promised,” he said.
“Nangako ang Presidente na babangon ang Marawi. Ngayong ika-27 araw ng Disyembre 2017, well, nagsimula na pong bumangon ang Marawi dahil ito po ang kauna-unahang housing shelters na ililipat, na ibibigay sa mga naging biktima ng digmaan dito sa Marawi (The President vowed that Marawi will rise again. Its recovery starts on December 27, 2017 with the turnover of the first batch of housing shelters to the affected residents),” he added.
The armed conflict in Marawi erupted on May 23, when a government raid against Hapilon failed and the terrorists went on a rampage in the city, taking hostages and burning down buildings.
The President declared martial law in the entire Mindanao later that day.
Martial law was extended by Congress to December 31, 2017 and further extended recently to December 31, 2018 to allow government to eradicate all armed groups that pose security threats in Mindanao and ensure the smooth rebuilding and rehabilitation of Marawi. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / VoxPop Philippines)