Western governments are warning their citizens against travelling to nearly all of the southern third of the Philippines, citing the rising threats of terror attacks and kidnappings by Islamist militants, it was reported on July 27. / AFP PHOTO / Ted ALJIBE
The government is already developing an 11-hectare location in Marawi that will accommodate transitional shelters for persons displaced by the armed conflict in the city, an official from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Monday, July 31.
During the Mindanao Hour press briefing in Malacañan, OCD Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima said the proposed area is located in Barangay Sagunsungan, Marawi City.
“Now, meron na hong ground development na ginagawa ang DPWH dito sa area. Bukas, pupunta ang sub-committee on housing para tingnan kung paano pa ma-improve ‘yung area na ‘yun,” said Purisima who is also the spokesperson of Task Force Bangon Marawi, which supervises the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi.
Purisima said they have yet to build shelters in the area since it still has to go through evaluations from other concerned government agencies like the National Housing Authority (NHA).
He said his office is in full coordination with internally displaced persons (IDPs) whether they prefer to live in tents or in transitional shelters in respect of their “cultural sensitivities.”
Purisima said the report on Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) for Marawi City will be released this week that will become the basis of post-conflict needs assessments (PCNA), which is vital for the city’s rehabilitation and reconstruction. (from PND report)