Andanar thanks local, foreign partners for Marawi aid

FILE: Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (PCOO Photo)

MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday thanked the government’s local and international partners for their continued support to rehabilitate war-torn Marawi City.

“We would like to express our gratitude for the recent efforts of our international and local partners,” he said in a Bangon Marawi press briefing in Iligan City.

Andanar lauded the signing of two new official development assistance (ODA) projects between the Philippines and Japan amounting to PHP3.5 billion, which was inked on March 20.

He said PHP1 billion of the ODA will be used to further support the rehabilitation of Marawi City, which was reduced to rubble by a five-month battle between government forces and an Islamic State-inspired group last year.

Andanar also thanked the Japanese government for donating 27 sets of brand new heavy equipment on March 15, which will be used for the government’s rehabilitation program, and Mitsubishi for handing over 26 utility vehicles to Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).

He also mentioned the World Food Program (WFP), headed by its Philippines Country Director Stephen Gluning, which conducted another feeding program, and distributed slippers and kitchen utensils to students and their schools on March 13.

Andanar said the United States government has announced a new assistance worth PHP100 million “that will boost food security in Marawi and surrounding areas”.

On the other hand, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, through Belgium’s support, distributed different agriculture inputs and tools to farmer-beneficiaries on March 20.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, he said, has reported that 139 organizations have facilitated more than 6,000 activities involving different clusters, such as education, health, shelter, logistics and the provision of non-food items in aid of Marawi residents.

Andanar said local non-government organizations have also been active in helping the government’s rehabilitation and recovery program.

As of March 20, the PCOO chief reported that there are 1,648 families in 52 remaining evacuation centers while 41,175 families have been identified as home-based internally displaced persons.

He said PHP322.5 million worth of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) support and maintenance services have been availed of by 27,770 displaced families.