OVP eyes child learning spaces for Marawi evacuees

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of Vice President Leni Robredo will set up temporary learning spaces for children displaced by the ongoing clashes between government forces and the Islamic State-linked Maute terror group in Marawi City.

 In her weekly BISErbisyong Leni program over dzXL yesterday, Robredo said a team from the OVP has started looking for possible places where students can hold classes temporarily.

“We want to set up temporary learning centers in Iligan and nearby areas so the children can continue their schooling while in evacuation centers,” she said.

Robredo said OVP’s private partners have already donated chairs and other school supplies.

The Vice President is scheduled to return to Iligan City today to check on the condition of the evacuees.

“While all of us wait for this (crisis) to end, we want them (evacuees) especially the children to continue their lives,” Robredo said.

Classes remain suspended in Marawi City and eight districts in Lanao del Sur.

At least seven public schools were reportedly damaged during the clashes between soldiers and members of the Maute terrorist group.

Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said her department would conduct a special Brigada Eskwela in Marawi as soon as the military completes clearing operations in the city.

Classes in the affected schools in Marawi and nearby areas would still end on April 6, 2018 despite the postponement of the start of classes, she said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also said women- and child-friendly spaces (WFS) would be established in evacuation centers for displaced residents from Marawi City and other areas in Mindanao.

A WFS is a designated tent in an evacuation center where women and children can feel physically and emotionally safe.

Activities held in the WFS are for psychosocial processing, including drawing and playing for children. WFS is also utilized for breastfeeding.