April 7, 2020 when President Rodrigo Duterte extended the “Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)” or lockdown for the entire Luzon until April 30 from the original April 12, due to the recommendation of the IATF (Inter-agency task force) in combating the COVID-19 and in few weeks ago, the provincial of Lanao Del Sur and Marawi City has also announced the extension of ECQ to April 30 as a precaution to prevent the spread of the 2019 Corona virus disease (Covid-19).
According to Provincial Governor Hon. Bombit Alonto Adiong that many do not want the extension because the observance of Ramadhan, but an extension was needed to prevent the number of PUIs from rising again.
While many are being affected by the said crisis especially in this observance of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, the vulnerable sectors like orphans in Toril (Islamic Orphanage) and to the stranded Students/Morits (Arabic Learners) are being more challenged while observing the implementation of ECQ that they struggled to their everyday means.
In response to this, the Office of MP Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph also provided a Ramadhan Package of goods (included but not limited to sacks of rice, groceries, boxes of canned goods/noodles, fresh fish and vegetables/spices) that were distributed in each targeted Ten (10) Madrasa/Toril in the Municipality of Saguiaran, Binidayan, Marantao and Marawi City including the stranded Students/Morits (Arabic learners) coming from different places who were stuck in Poona Marantao, Marawi City. Some of them were being referred by the netizens and the community Leaders/volunteers that they need immediate help amidst this crisis.
This is one of the programs that the office implemented due to the covid-19 crisis the so called “COVID-19 Tabang Program”
Some of the said stranded Morits (Arabic learners) are from the Municipality of SND(Sultan Naga Dimaporo), Malabang, Tubaran and Marogong who are students in the Ma’ahad Al-Kuwait, Poona Marantao, Marawi City and most of them are financially constrained because their family cannot able to send them a support.
“Just a week that our exam will finish but due to this Lockdown, we cannot go home and we didn’t expect this extension of “ECQ.” said by Mr. Jamael Mutingan (one of the stranded Students).
MP Maisara continues to reach out for the stranded students as the office also supported the transportation of 122 Jama Mapun Students to go home this Ramadhan to their families. They are students of MSU Tawi-Tawi who are stranded in their dormitories for more than one month, the students totaling 177 with the help of Bongao Mayor who shouldered 50 students that will undertake a 24 hours boat ride from Bongao to Mapun Island, the farthest Island in the Philippines and also the said university shouldered their food for the travel.
Reference: Hana T. Yusoph
