Zambo City still recovering a year after failed siege

A year after the failed siege by Moro rebels, residents of Zamboanga City are still picking up the pieces.

In an interview with GMA News TV's “Balitanghali” on Monday, Mayor Beng Climaco said efforts for the residents—particularly those displaced by the conflict—are geared toward providing shelter and livelihood, such as the cash-for-work and food-for-work programs.

"Ang kailangan na nila at this time, it's no longer the immediate response for food. What they need is capital for them to be able to earn a living," Climaco said.

She added that some residents are also hired to help in rebuilding homes in the city.

"They get salaries from the contractors that hire them," she said. "Ang hiring natin [ay] para magkaroon sila ng sense of accountability and ownership."

Climaco said they will be holding a turnover of permanent housing on Wednesday, as part of their commemoration of the crisis, which caused damage to the city that amounted to P200,578,000, with 118,819 people affected in 14 villages.

"There are still around 23,000 accounted-for families, people that are still not living under permanent housing," she said, adding that Badjaos in the area have been transferred "to a more secure place.”

“Eventually bibigyan sila ng temporary shelter,” she said.

Climaco said that according to Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, the government wants to move people out of the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, which has become their temporary refuge since the siege.

Also on Monday, the Zamboanga City government led thanksgiving activities to security forces who defended the city from the standoff. More activities have been scheduled by the city government this week to mark the first anniversary of the failed siege. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News