Marawi evacuees in Davao want to return home

FILE: The evacuees who end up at the provincial government’s headquarters. (Photo: City Government of Marawi/Facebook)

DAVAO CITY — Some of the families from Marawi City, who sought temporary shelter in Davao City, wanted to return home after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city liberated from terrorists.

City Social Service and Development Office (CSSDO) head Maria Luisa Bermudo said there are 479 Marawi evacuees in Davao City.

Bermudo said some of them approached CSSDO because they want to return to their homes in Marawi City after learning of the President’s declaration.

“We told them that we still have to coordinate with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) because this is the mandated agency when it comes to rehabilitation and restoration of the return of these IDPs from Davao City to Marawi City,” she said.

She said that her office has yet to coordinate with the DSWD 11 for the assistance that will be given to these IDP under the Balik Probinsya or After Care program of the agency.

Carmela Duron, spokesperson for DSWD XI, said her agency will give the assistance but they need to secure a certification first from the local government of Marawi City or official of the Philippine National Police or Armed Forces of the Philippines in the area.

“If they want to return to their homes, they need to get a certification from their local government unit in Marawi City allowing them to go back as their city is already peaceful and liveable,” she said.

“This requirement is for their own welfare and safety,” Duron added.

Duron, however, said the evacuees need not go to Marawi City because they can still get the requirement through email, social media or through fax.

She explained that this requirement is needed for them to claim the assistance that the agency will be giving them.

Duron said the agency will give transportation allowance to the evacuees who will be returning home. She said the DSWD has already provided assistance during their stay here in the city.

These evacuees stayed with their relatives in Barangays 5-A.