Relief operations for displaced Butig residents continue

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development is conducting relief operations in Butig, Lanao del Sur after the Philippine Army retook parts of the town from the Maute terror group.

 

According to a military spokesperson, the military had recovered 85 to 90 percent of Butig municipality on Wednesday, November 30. However, operations are still ongoing, according to Butig Mayor Dilanggalen Pansar.

 

"There are still firefights in the forest areas within the outskirts of the municipality, but control in the town proper itself has already been regained," Pansar said.

 

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Vice Governor Haroud Al-Rashid Lucman Jr. conducted relief operations in Butig together with Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART), and assisted by the Butig municipal government and the barangay captains in the area according to a release by the regional government's Bureau of Public Information.

 

According to Lucman, people have lost much of their properties.

 

He said that houses in Bayabao Poblacion were razed to the ground by the Maute group, and that schools are currently not functioning.

 

"Some of the people have nothing left aside from the clothes on their backs," he said.

 

The local government and the DSWD have already distributed food packs as part of their quick response operation.

 

Lucman added the some of the internally displace persons are staying with relatives and not at evacuation centers, making it more difficult to conduct relief operations.

 

According to the DSWD Field Office XII, the number of IDPs has already reached 12,250.

 

However, Pansar said that the local and regional government are "still monitoring the whereabouts of all the displaced people."

 

"Almost everybody chose to evacuate. Some went to nearby barangays, while residents of the same nearby barangays also chose to leave," Pansar said, emphasizing the need for support in "recovery" efforts.

 

"We really need to focus on recovery as we prepare to assist residents of Butig when they return," Pansar added.

 

Pansar also said that they are currently coordinating with the military and have been doing so throughout the operations, adding coordination with the military will be crucial for the return of the residents.

 

"Our goal is really to help the people return to their communities," Pansar said.