The Department of National Defense announced that the ongoing rebellion in Marawi City is nearing its end, with only less than two barangays left with the presence of Maute terrorists.
“Konti na lang ‘yung natitira rito. This is just one and a half barangay-wide. The area is just one and a half barangays. That’s why I’ve been told by our ground commanders that malapit na raw,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during the Mindanao Hour press briefing in Malacañang on Friday.
He said the military has not set a deadline but assured that government troops are “doing their best.”
“So konting tiis na lang. Anyway, our troops are doing their best,” he said.
The Cabinet official also announced that transitional shelter areas are already being built, noting that flooring for the transitional shelters have started last September 8.
He added that Task Force Bangon Marawi Subcommittee on Housing met on September 13 to discuss the provision of water supply in the transitional shelter site in Marawi City.
Lorenzana said Filinvest, who has expressed its willingness to assist the Task Force in the provision of water supply, will meet with Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to work on a plan to provide the service.
He further noted that the Office of Civil Defense’s Quick Response Fund may be utilized to support such projects, such as water system, to address the immediate needs of internally displaced persons in Marawi.
In terms of psychological interventions, Lorenzana said the Task Force Bangon Marawi, in partnership with Mindanao State University, Marawi Sultanate League, and the Philippine Army has conducted a moral recovery and psychological program on September 13 in Iligan City.
(from Presidential News Desk)