By Noel Punzalan
COTABATO CITY—The education department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) is eyeing the immediate repair of seven damaged public schools
in Marawi City.
The repair, along with the rehabilitation of 54 other schools across the
province of Lanao del Sur, is estimated to cost over P34-million, said Alfhadar
Pajiji, Department of Education–ARMM assistant secretary.
Post-conflict assessment conducted by DepED-ARMM identified the seven schools
in Marawi as the Matampay Elementary School; Tampilong Elementary School; Datu
Saber Elementary School;
Basak Elementary School; Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School; Pandi
Elementary School; and the Marawi City National High School.
Pajiji said the schools have been cleared by military authorities and are ready
for classes once repaired.
On Wednesday, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman visited Marawi and led the
distribution of relief goods at the Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School.
Hataman said the regional government would closely work with DepED-ARMM to
speed up the repair and rehabilitation of the schools.
The May 23-Oct. 23 clashes between government troops and members of the joint
Abu Sayyaf-Maute terror group has displaced over 200,000 residents in Marawi,
some 60,000 of whom are students enrolled at various levels in public and
private schools, as well as those in private colleges and the Mindanao State
University.
This developed as Barangay Chairperson Cairon Dimatingcal of Lumbac Madaya has
expressed willingness to donate her 1.5-hectare land for the establishment of a
new barangay, hall, health center and a day care center in the adjacent village
of Malimono.
“I am willing to give my piece of land in Malimono for the use of the villagers
there,” she said in vernacular during Wednesday’s dialogue and consultation
forum facilitated by Task Force Bangon Marawi in that city.
Lumbac Madaya is a recipient of the ARMM-Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace
and Governance and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS) flagship program that targets a more
coordinated and focused intervention at the local level to achieve maximum
impact of government services.
ARMM-HELPS was supposed to turnover community projects such as a barangay hall,
women's center, and learning center to Lumbac Madaya but was stalled by Marawi
conflict.
Dimatingcal said her land donation would help much the villagers of Malimono to
restart their new lives.
The ARMM government has allotted P450-million this year for the rehabilitation
of Marawi, with an additional P930-M for 2018. (PNA)
