BAGUIO CITY—Baguio will donate P300,000 as its contribution for the relief operations in Marawi City, which is being devastated by terrorists aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan announced Thursday.
Domogan said the funds will be sourced from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or any available sources to help the government’s efforts to bring back the robust economic activities in Marawi after government forces regain control of the ravaged city.
“We were able to source out available funds that we could extend as our counterpart for the relief, rehabilitation and recovery efforts that will be undertaken in Marawi City,” Domogan said.
He said Marawi’s recovery “will surely take some time” because of the extent of damage it sustained from the series of encounters between government and the members of the Maute terrorist group.
“That is why other local governments will surely pool their resources to augment whatever available resources will be infused by the national government to bring back the economic activities in Marawi City,” the mayor added.
Baguio City has always extended financial assistance to different local governments around the country that were devastated by natural or man-made calamities “to help in their smooth recovery and rehabilitation and bring back the vibrance of their economy that will contribute in uplifting the living condition of their residents,” he said.
Domogan said what happened to Marawi should be a wakeup call to local residents to be vigilant of the suspicious activities of their neighbors, especially for those who are new in their places.
“Thus, they must immediately report to the police whatever doubtful activities that are being undertaken or those suspicious-looking individuals in their places,” he said.
The mayor called on the local police force to strengthen their intelligence network to help deter the occurrence of untoward incidents that could compromise the peace and order in the city.
“What happened to Marawi City can happen anywhere in the country if local residents will not actually cooperate with law enforcers to inform them about what is happening in their neighborhood,” he said.
“That is why the best way to counter whatever terroristic attacks will be the timely reporting of irregular activities of suspicious-looking people in their places,” the mayor added.
The financial assistance will be sent by the local government directly to the account of the Marawi government, Domogan said.
It will now be up to the beneficiary to decide where to allocate the funds to allow the immediate rehabilitation and recovery of the city from the devastation that it suffered for over 20 days now, he added.