Marawi City, Lano del Sur – “Kambalingan”, which means a permanent return to Ground Zero of the Most Affected Area is the top clamor of the IDPs from Marawi City.
The Senate Special Committee on Marawi conducted a Public Hearing last February 21, 2020, at MSU-IIT, Iligan City presided by its chairman, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, among the committee members who are present in the said hearing was Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Senator Francis Tolentino and Senator Miguel Zubiri.
On the same day, the IDPs from Marawi also had a peaceful protest-rally which they called a “Walk for Marawi” activity where the IDPs walked from San Miguel Children’s Park going to MSU-IIT where the Senate Hearing held. The “Walk for Marawi” is part of the IDP’s way to express their sentiments to the senators that their call for a safe, dignified and unconditional return of Marawi IDPs may be heard by the Government. Their manifesto is stated below:
“END THE UNCERTAINTY! LET US GO BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES IN MARAWI!”
“Today, the IDPs march to show their continuing disgust to the government’s failure to ensure their dignified return to their war-ravaged communities in Marawi City.”
“It has been exactly 1,004 days since they were uprooted from their homes to escape the siege by militants espousing violent extremism. But after the much-vaunted “Marawi Liberation” and the much-touted “bombs and debris clearing” operations, there are still walls of uncertainties that bar them from going back and rebuilding themselves lives.”
“At the height of the five-month-long war in 2017, they asked President Duterte to allow dialogue to work so that the militants leave the city and spare it from ruin.”
“And today, they owe it to their children and the next generation of Meranaws to hand them a city rebuilt according to their cultural moorings.”
“They would like to tell the Government that they, the internally displaced Marawi residents, have no intention to block efforts at the rehabilitation of our own city. Rather, they wanted the rehab to go full steam, and they think this can happen alongside in rebuilding their own private homes.”
“They hope commission can be established to look into the deeper issue of Marawi’s rehabilitation, beyond the physical infrastructure, and also look into issues of implementation of an ambitious roadmap that required enormous sums of money.”
“They hope to see Marawi rehab body that has clout over implementing agencies, and is proactive and responsive to legitimate concerns of the affected people through a built-in mechanism for citizen participation and oversight.”
“Cognizant of their recent experience, they further pray for social cohesion in our country where peace, harmony, inclusion, human dignity, and respect is upheld, and discrimination and persecution are put to an end.”
“Safe, Dignified and Unconditional Return of Marawi IDPs, Now!”
The rehabilitation of the Most Affected Area in Marawi City is part of the 12-Priority Agenda of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Thus, a Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation was created by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority through Resolution No. 41, dated September 26, 2019. This is in line with the provision of the Bangsamoro Organic Law under Article VI, Section 13 that allows the Bangsamoro Government to provide supplemental funding for the programs and projects in relation to Marawi rehabilitation. The role of the Special Committee on Marawi is to serve as the BTA’s mechanism for data gathering, monitoring and oversight the status of Marawi recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation that are being implemented by the different government agencies.
In connection hereof, the Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation had its 1st Public Hearing last January 15-16, 2020 at Ayala Resort Hotel, MSU Campus and Social Hall, Capitol Complex, Marawi City. This is to address the issues and concerns related to the long-run of rehabilitation of Marawi City.
For the 2nd Public Hearing, it was conducted last February 10-12, 2020 at Charm Pavilion, MSU Campus, Marawi City. The chairpersons of the 24 barangays from Ground Zero headed by the ABC President, Dr. Camid U. Gandamra, Jr., who were present and expressed to the quorum the need for the restoration to the ground zero and the basic facilities like water, electricity, and road before they agreed to the call of its constituents “Kambalingan”.
Indeed, the issue of Marawi is beyond incomparable to any other crisis. People of Marawi aims to have social justice. For almost 3 years, the IDPs felt that they cannot wait for the comprehensive program and possible services coming from the government. If the government through the office of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) is really sincere in addressing the issues to let the Internally Displaced Persons return and provide assistance to rebuild their homes, everything is in good situation. The IDPs need not a temporary shelter nor a permanent shelter outside Marawi, rather a HOME at the heart of the Islamic City in the Philippines, Marawi City.
