It has been 12 days after the declaration of total lockdown in Lanao del Sur including Marawi City due to the COVID-19 crisis. There is rapid increase of COVID-19 cases not only in the Philippines but in the entire world. About 1,546 people in the Philippines were confirmed positive with 42 recoveries. Numbers of COVID-19 death toll rises to 78 as of March 30, 2020, (Department of Health Philippines).
Businessmen, drivers, street vendors, employees of both government and non-government institutions, and students from various private and public schools were affected by the said crisis.
Lockdown was declared last March 19, 2020, per joint executive order No. 002 series of 2020 by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur through the leadership Hon. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr.
Mindanao State University-Main Campus, the only University in Lanao del Sur is known as the melting pot of the south. This is where diverse students from different regions in the country are studying. Most of the students there come from financially constrained families. Their parents also cannot send support to their children.
In response to the struggles of the students who were stranded in their respective dormitories, the Office of MP Atty. Mairsara C. Dandamun-Latiph in collaboration with the Mindanao State University-Supreme Student Government (MSU-SSG) under the leadership of Mr. Nurbani C. Macaraya, and other warm-hearted donors/organizations that endeavor to support the general welfare of the students that severely restricts access basic necessities, distributed relief goods and hygiene kit. Around 60 dormitories/cottages with more than 660 students inside the campus were catered from March 22-23, 2020.
The office of MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph also implemented the immediate relief distribution or the “COVID-19 Tabang Program” to the Municipalities of Malabang, Saguiran, Lumba-bayabao, Tugaya, Taraka, and Butig Lanao del Sur serving a total of 700 households and 1,060 individuals including Marawi City.
Beneficiaries are the vulnerable persons who in general belong to the poorest of the poor such as the Internally Displaced Person (IDPs), Persons whose occupations are adversely affected (Tricycle Drivers, Small vendors, etc.), Persons with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents, senior citizen who do not receive pension and family support.
Partners for the said program were BLGU Officers and community leaders of the Municipalities of Malabang, Bakwit Village of Saguiran, Lumba-bayabao, Taraka, and Butig Lanao del Sur.
MP Maisara continues to reach Bangsamoro People especially the communities outside the Bangsamoro Region serving 505 households in the Barangay Tala Caloocan City and Barangay Holy Spirit Quezon City as of March 2020.
Reference: Lainisah Maruhom Sumpingan
