More aid headed for Marawi City

CEBU, Philippines - More help is pouring in from Cebu for residents of Marawi City in Mindanao caught in the crossfire between government troops and members of the Maute group.

Yesterday, the Mandaue City government said it will give P100,000 as financial aid.

"We will be sending financial assistance to Marawi," said Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna during a press conference.

He said the City Council is poised to authorize Mayor Luigi Quisumbing to utilize the city’s calamity fund or local disaster fund for the financial assistance.

"The City of Mandaue stands ready to assist the people of Marawi in any way necessary," Quisumbing said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has already delivered 10,000 more food packs to the city. Last week, a first batch of 10,000 packs was sent.

DSWD-7 information officer Leah Quintana said 5,100 family food packs were delivered the other day and another 4,900 packs were delivered last night.

"Nagkinahanglan pa gyud ang mga evacuees ug additional food packs mao na ang among gi-deliver nga moabot na og 10,000 food packs additional," Quintana said.

Quintana said the agency’s Visayas Disaster Response Center in Mandaue City can pack at least 50,000 family food packs daily because of its mechanized production system.

Volunteers

As far as DSWD is concerned, several beneficiaries of the government’s 4Ps program have volunteered to help in the repacking.

Outside of the agency, young professionals have also come together to generate donations from the private sector.

One of the volunteers, Donna Claire Bacayo, told The Freeman race and religion is no longer an issue in their ongoing efforts.

“Really, for me, there is no division between Muslims and Catholics because we’re just family. I am a Filipino, they’re Filipinos, too,” she said.

The movement, now called Tabang-Sibilyan Visayas, kicked off on social media with a plea of help from a Maranao.

The plea was posted by one Jamil Faisal Adiong, a student leader in the University of San Carlos.

Adiong shared they started with eight volunteers but with the help of social media, their numbers grew to 30 volunteers from different groups in Cebu.

They have already sought the help of 18 private donors.

Adiong is calling on the public to donate Halal certified foods or those lawful or clean to eat for Muslims, as well as clothes that are culturally sensitive.

Another Maranao, Aliyah Hamdag, said, “May non-Muslims din na nag-volunteer so I’m very grateful to them. Hindi sila yung mga ibang tao…May ibang tao talaga na nag-jujudge yung Muslims daw, sila daw yung threat sa peace, diba?” she said.

Her fellow Maranao, Junaidah Bilao, agreed.

“Daghan jud atong makitan nga manabang then kanang diri jud nato makitan ang unity in diversity sa Philippines,” she said.

CCI, the social action arm of the Cebu Archdiocese, holds office in a building beside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City. — Garry B. Lao, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with Jan Vhe M. Miñoza and Sarah Joy M. Escuadro (FREEMAN)