Some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City who sought temporary shelter in Davao City have expressed the dire to return home after President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared their city has liberated.
City Social Service and Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermudo said some of the 479 IDPs approached their office to help facilitate their return to their homes in Marawi City in view of the President’s declaration.
“We told them that we still have to coordinate with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) as national agency because this is the mandated agency when it comes to rehabilitation and restoration of the return of these IDPs from Davao City to Marawi City,” she said.
She said that their office has not yet coordinated with the DSWD 11 on what kind of assistance will be given to these IDPs from the Balik Probinsya or After Care program of the agency.
For the part of DSWD 11, Carmela Duron, spokesperson of the agency, said that their office will give the assistance but they need to secure a certification first from the local government of Marawi City or from official of Philippine National Police or Armed Forces of the Philippines in the area.
“If they want to return to their home, they need to get a certification from their local government unit in Marawi City allowing them to go back as their city is already peaceful and liveable,” she said.
“This requirement is for their own welfare and safety,” Duron added. Duron said these IDP don’t need to go to Marawi City just to get the said requirement because they can still get it through email, social media or through fax. She explained this requirement is really needed for them to claim the assistance that the agency will be given to them.
Duron said the agency will give transportation allowance to IDP who will be returning home. She said that the DSWD has already providing assistance while staying in here in the city.
