Marawi City is never alone in recovering from the massive damage and destruction caused by terrorizing the Maute Group as Valenzuela City once again extends help and assistance to the city’s residents who are evacuated to safety in the neighboring localities. 

As a form of support, the City Council of Valenzuela passed Resolution No. 977 Series of 2017 which recommends the grant of Php 2,000,000 financial aid to Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. 

It also authorizes the City Mayor REX Gatchalian to release the specified amount from the city’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) as indicated in the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 or Republic Act No. 10121 wherein 30% of the local disaster management fund shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the people or communities hit by calamities, disasters, epidemics or complex emergencies. 

Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups have attacked and seized large portions of Marawi City since May 23 to establish control of the Islamic State jihadist groups in Southeast Asia. President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the city and the rest of Mindanao under Martial Law for public security and faster rehabilitation. 

As of October 2, Marawi siege has reached a total of 951 fatalities composing of 749 Maute terrorists, 155 state troops and 47 civilians. 

VC Cares for Marawi 

The City Government of Valenzuela, in cooperation with the Office of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and Unified Alliance of Socio – Civic Organizations of Valenzuela, has expressed its continued support to the people of Marawi City as it pushed through on its second visit, September 29 to October 1, 2017. 

Headed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, together with Valenzuela City Vice Mayor Lorena Natividad-Borja, 1st District Councilor Marlon Alejandrino, 2nd District Councilor Lailanie Nolasco, and Barangay Karuhatan Kagawad and Rotary Club of Valenzuela President, Niña Lopez, the second visit and distribution of basic survival and hygiene kits covered Camp Ranao, Balo-i covered court, Tent City of Pantar, and the evacuation sites in Mipaga, Saguiaran, Bito Buadi Itowa. 

Aside from the allocation of aids, Valenzuela City local officials also handed a Php 2,000,000 financial assistance to Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra in Iligan City on September 30. 

Meanwhile, Ms. Dorothy G. Evangelista, officer-in-charge of CSWDO, observed from their recent visit the decrease in number of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) staying in the evacuation centers and the increase in home-based evacuees for others chose to live with their relatives in tents. 

She also shared the organized and improved living condition of the IDPs. 

“Mas organized sila ngayon, unlike dati each family is open, wala silang mga cubicle. Ngayon, kapag nasa covered court ka, may kanya-kanya na silang cubicle for (each) family and ngayon marami na silang mga tent [They are more organized now unlike before wherein each family is exposed. They don’t have cubicles. But now, in the covered courts, each family has their own area or booth. Also, there are more tents to be used by the people],” Ms. Evangelista said. 

“We would like to extend help more kasi alam natin na kulang pa ‘yun and we hope na sana matapos na dahil ‘yun ang battle cry nila, kung kalian sila makakauwi ng Marawi so we really hope na sana matapos na ang siege in Marawi. [We would like to extend more help because we know that the assistance that we have offered them is not yet enough and we hope that the Marawi siege will end soon since that is the battle cry of the residents, when will they be able to go back home], “she explained when asked about the local government’s message to the citizens of Marawi. 

The allotted 3,951 basic survival and hygiene kits amounting to more than Php 3,000,000 were raised from the donations of different socio-civic organizations, private companies and non-government organizations in Valenzuela City through the Office of Socio-Civic Affairs headed by Former Councilor and Red Cross Valenzuela Chapter Chairperson, Ms. Elizabeth Chongco. Each kit contains a blanket, plastic mattress, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. 

Valenzuela City first offered its assistance to Marawi City on June 3 to 6, 2017 wherein over 10,000 families and evacuees from Barangay Maria Christina, Municipality of Balo- i in Lanao del Norte, Barangay Pala-O and Barangay San Miguel in Iligan City and Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur received relief goods from the local government which contains five kilos of rice and four canned goods.