‘Bakwits’ seek dignity beyond aid 9 years after Marawi siege
COTABATO CITY—Nine years after the bloody Marawi siege uprooted tens of thousands of families, many “bakwits,” or internally displaced persons (IDPs), are no longer merely seeking relief assistance—they are demanding the restoration of their dignity and a permanent end to their displacement.
“Our relatives are tired and exhausted from hosting us, especially as our families have grown over the past nine years,” said Jamilah Sarif Asama, speaking on behalf of home-based bakwits during a consultation dialogue organized by the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last Friday.
The gathering brought together displaced residents, community leaders and government officials in an effort to ensure that the voices of Marawi’s displaced population are heard and translated into concrete government action.
“It was a deeply important consultation and the overarching sentiment was clear: emergency relief handouts are no longer enough. The people want their dignity back,” said Jeve Alferez, chief of the MSSD Information and Communications Division.
More than nine years have passed since the Islamic State-aligned Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group laid siege to Marawi City on May 23, 2017, reducing the core of the country’s only Islamic city to rubble and forcing at least 350,000 people to flee their homes.
While rehabilitation efforts have continued over the years, many families remain displaced, struggling with inadequate housing, uncertain livelihoods and limited access to basic services.
To bridge the gap between policy and realities on the ground, the MSSD, in partnership with the Marawi City government, convened what officials described as a crucial consultation aimed at shaping future interventions under Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 62, the region’s landmark law protecting the rights of IDPs.
Known as the “Rights of Internally Displaced Persons of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Act of 2024,” BAA 62 provides a rights-based framework for the protection, assistance and long-term recovery of people displaced by armed conflict, terrorism, clan feuds, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Voices from shelters
Abdul Jalil Madid, president of the Hadiya Permanent Shelter, said government interventions have yet to fully address the realities confronting displaced communities.
“We should not merely be beneficiaries of government programs. We must also be part of the decision-making process,” Madid said.
Fighting back tears, Asama said many IDP families have remained dependent on relatives because they were never accommodated in formal shelters.
“Our relatives are tired and exhausted from hosting us, especially as our families have grown over the past nine years,” she said.
Gov’t response
Lawyer Mohammad Muktadir Estrella, MSSD director general, assured participants that their concerns would directly influence future government interventions.
He noted that BAA 62 obliges government institutions to pursue long-term solutions and integrate the welfare of displaced persons into the broader Bangsamoro peace and development agenda.
Hasim Guiamil, MSSD director for programs and operations services, acknowledged existing institutional challenges but pledged to strengthen programs that would help displaced families achieve economic stability.
He said livelihood projects could be established within permanent housing sites to provide residents with sustainable sources of income.
Under BAA 62, durable solutions extend beyond the construction of houses. The law seeks to ensure that displaced persons have access to public services, economic opportunities, security and freedom of movement.
It identifies three voluntary pathways for recovery: safe return to places of origin, local integration within host communities or resettlement in another area.
Dr. Imelda Taib, chief of staff to Marawi City Mayor Shariff Zain Gandamra, noted that the city government has established a council that includes direct representation from displaced communities, ensuring that their concerns are reflected in local policymaking.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
