Clearing of unexploded ordnance challenge in Marawi; building of temporary shelters starts September: officials

August 4, 2017

Clearing of unexploded ordnance is one of the biggest challenges being faced by  government troopers in Marawi City, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday.

This as the government is set to start in September the construction of temporary shelters for displaced residents in the war-torn city.

"Primarily because the biggest challenge that are posed is the risk of increasing the number of casualties on the part of the civilians who may be affected by unexploded ordnance such as the bomb on the upper right of the photo and the thousands of annex --- of possible IEDs (improvised explosive device) that have been laid out as traps in many areas of the city that are still in the hands or have not yet been cleared," said Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr, AFP spokesperson.

He said the challenges in Marawi were similar to those faced by citizens in Indochina, Laos and Cambodia after the wars.

"You’ve heard about fields being ploughed by many farmers in Indochina and later on, they explode and they lose their arms, they lose their legs. These are the kind of challenges that we don’t like our people to face immediately after hostilities stop," he said.

This was the reason, he said why the military and police have been "very deliberate and tedious" in their effort in clearing every street, every corner, every inch and every house in Marawi of the possible devices left by the Islamic State-inspired Maute Terror Group.

The terrorists started occupying Marawi on May 23, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the whole of Mindanao.

"And that is why we request for patience on the part of our citizens whose especially are coming from the city of Marawi to just wait out and help us by their prayers that we’d be able to finish this as quickly as possible," Padilla said.

He noted that two villages, with approximate area of one square kilometer, remain problematic.

Government troopers continue to pursue Maute remnants, including IS-anointed leader Isnilon Hapilon.

According to Padilla, a number of hostages remain in the hands of the terrorists.

Task Force Marawi spokesperson Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima said the construction of initial 1,100 temporary shelter units for the displaced Marawi residents shall begin by first week of September in the 11-hectare area in the city.

He said an electric cooperative has been setting up power lines and road networks are being constructed in the relocation site.

"The Task Force, through the sub-committee on housing, will focus not only on building temporary shelters but also ensuring that basic necessities such as electricity and water utilities and livelihood opportunities will be made available to everyone," he said.

The beneficiaries of the temporary shelters would be identified and classified, with the help of the local government officials, after military clearance has been secured, he added.

Thousands of families have been displaced due to the atrocities in Marawi. Celerina Monte/DMS