The Department of Public Works and Highways, together with its District Engineering Offices, teamed up with other line agencies in pursuit of available resources that would aid in providing the needs of the evacuees of the Marawi crisis.
Evacuation centers in the municipalities of Pantar, Balo-i, and Brgy. Sta. Elena, Iligan City were inspected where the concerns of the evacuees and the necessities of the area were catered and considered for immediate action.
The DPWH team was composed of officials from the Central Office and the 10th Regional Office: Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, Assistant Secretary Dimas S. Soguilon, Ms. Perla E. Maglinte, Regional Director Virgilio C. Eduarte, District Engineers Khalil D. Sultan and Rey Peter B. Gille of the Lanao del Norte District Engineering Offices. Other agencies were DSWD, DOH, UNICEF, OCD, LGU, and NDRRMC.
Sanitation was seen to be a vital concern in all evacuation centers thus, Senior Usec. Yabut requested for units of latrines (outdoor toilets) from UNICEF to secure the health and hygiene of the people in the area. A total of 53 latrine units will be constructed and installed in 8 evacuation centers in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. A washing area and communal kitchen were also proposed to be constructed to provide comfort to the evacuees while their hometown is still ongoing survey for rehabilitation.
“There are several evacuees living in Madrasah (Arabic word for any educational institution) within the municipality and it would be more preferable if the evacuation center will be centralized in only one area and that is at Brgy. Campong, Pantar, Lanao del Norte,” Pantar Municipal Vice Mayor Macauyag A. Palagawad suggested. Upon visit of the DPWH team, it has been founded that there was no power and water supply available. A letter to LASURECO was already drafted for the application of power supply and a submersible pump of at least 3 horsepower capacity with pipings was already requested for the water supply.
DPWH through Equi-Parco Construction Company also delivered four (4) truckloads of sand and gravel for the ground area in the Bayanihan Village, Iligan City evacuation center as requested by DSWD and DOH immediately within the day.
“We have to fast track the installation of these facilities with the help of our contractors as early as July 8,” RD Eduarte said. “The Regional Office is now coordinating with the urban planning specialists and local officials to ensure restoration for those displaced and affected families by the protracted conflict. We will also be sending a team to survey the area where the proposed tent city will be created along the Marawi Diversion Road in Brgy. Saguiaran, Marawi City,” he further stated.
DPWH Central Office will be the lead agency for the emergency shelter of the Marawi evacuees as well as for the site development as agreed by the body during the 2nd NDRRMC Meeting in Mahogany Hills, Pala-o, Iligan City which aims for the early recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi City.