DILG to add more personnel during rebuilding of Marawi

August 14, 2017

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it will add more personnel in Marawi to maintain peace and order during the rehabilitation of the city.

“There are already required numbers ... we really have to put some more personnel to maintain the peace and order in the area”, said DILG officer-in-charge Undersecretary Catalino Cuy in a press conference in Camp Crame Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed on June 28 Administrative Order No. 3 creating the Task Force Bangon Marawi for the rehabilitation and recovery of the Marawi city.

The task force has an initial allocation of P20 billion.

Cuy said one of the responsibilities of the DILG as part of the task force is to make sure the local government will deliver basic public services to the people.

He said managing land in the city with no permit is a problem to the task force.

“The problem in the titling and identification of ownership of the properties there is  a problem but it can be solved through the help of other agencies”, he said.

Cuy said one of the reasons why the battle against the Maute-ISIS group in Marawi has been prolonged is because of the hostages inside the battle area and the firm structures of the city.

“That is easy if there are no hostages. Of course, our security forces are considering the safety of the hostages. Aside from the terrain and the structures there are firm”, he said. Alanna Ambi/DMS