Marawi IDPs granted clearance to visit abandoned homes

COTABATO CITY --- Hundreds of internally displaced people were allowed by authorities to visit briefly their abandoned houses in Marawi City on Sunday.The activity, dubbed Kambisita, which means visit in the Maranaw dialect, was meant to give evacuees from Marawi City at least nine hours to inspect their houses and salvage belongings left inside.The initial April 1 to 2 Kambisita was closely monitored by the police and the military.Maranao IDPs were allowed to enter conflict-torn areas in Marawi City via designated entry and exit routes.Different groups of IDPs shall also be allowed to visit other areas in the city in batches from April 3 to 30, according to local officials.The Kambisita activity is supported by Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra and Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Bedjoria Alonto-Adiong.Army officials in Marawi City said a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan shall be presented to IDPs within the month, as a prelude to the start of the government’s rebuilding of Marawi City in May this year.Army Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Army’s 1stInfantry Division, said IDPs who are to visit their homes shall be given specific entry and exit routes to ensure their safety.Brawner, deputy commander of the 1st ID, said they could not allow visiting IDPs to freely roam in unsafe areas due to the possibility that there are still uncollected roadside bombs and booby traps left by militants who laid siege to Marawi City for five months last year.