The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) gave household livelihood assistance to selected barangays which had been earlier displaced by the fighting in Marawi, as part of its “Marawi Early Recovery” program.
PRC, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided assistance to a total of 1,539 beneficiaries.
Each family received P10,000 to provide capital for livelihood pursuits such as a sari-sari store, pedicab, fishing equipment, livestock and other business-oriented activities.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon personally travelled to the capital of Lanao del Sur to personally convey the mission of the country’s foremost humanitarian organization: To be there for Filipinos who are in need even after the calamity has ended and long after the world has stopped watching.
“Tapos na ang mga kaguluhan pero ang Red Cross nandito pa rin. Tatayo tayo nang may kusang-loob, malasakit, at pakikpagkapwa-tao,” he told the beneficiaries at the turnover rites.
Gordon also acknowledged the diligent efforts of the staff and volunteers of PRC’s Lanao del Sur-Marawi Chapter and nearby chapters for spearheading the operations that helped uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable people.
PRC’s Marawi Early Recovery is a P30-million project supported by ICRC. It focuses on shelter toolkit distribution, safe shelter awareness and household livelihood assistance for displaced families whose sources of livelihood were disrupted by the hostilities.
Also present during the distribution of household livelihood assistance were International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Head of Delegation Chris Staines and Operations and Programme Manager Patrick Elliot; ICRC Head of Cooperation Richard Villena; Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Al. Adiong Jr.; Congressmen Ansarudding “Hooky” Alonto Adiong; Philippine Army’s Lt. Col. Rosendo Abad Jr.; Marawi Police Chief PSupt. Jamal Adiong; Chief of Hospital Dr. Shalima Rakiin; Task Force Bangon Marawi Field Office Manager Asec. Felix Castro; and Lanao del Sur-Marawi Chapter Administrator Atty. Sittie Alliyah Adiong.
(from PRC release)