ACTOR Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla (better known as Robin Padilla) has launched a civic movement called Tindig Marawi in order to help get the war-torn city in the province of Lanao del Sur back on its feet after a five month-long siege that practically flattened what was before a bustling city center.

“Tindig Marawi is a movement that aims to get support from private individuals and corporations to build Marawi,” said Mr. Padilla during a press conference on Oct. 26 at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila.

Though the Philippine government has set aside P5 billion for the city’s rehabilitation for 2017 and will be releasing P10 billion more in 2018, Mr. Padilla said: “one corporation, one foundation, or the government won’t be enough… in helping Marawi.”

Mr. Padilla previously donated P5 million for “the psychosocial intervention of the kids of Marawi,” and another P5 million worth of relief goods to affected families, according to a press release.

“I invite everyone to help the rebuilding of Marawi. The war may have ended but the needs [of the people affected] are still great. Houses, jobs, food, hospitals, and schools – so much has been destroyed in Marawi and we need so much help so they can stand again,” he said in a statement in Filipino.

He has partnered with global property portal Lamudi in order to establish a portal that will “help serve as a fund-raising platform for the rebuilding of shelters in Marawi,” and with FINTQ, a financial technology company, which committed to “assist the Marawi victims regain their livelihood and facilitate organic farming and micro-business training through their program, Kasama Ka,” according to the release.

FINTQ will also be starting the Tindig Marawi Livelihood fund, hoping to raise a minimum of P10 million to provide seed money for the people of Marawi so they can start their businesses anew.

“We won’t hide anything. We will mail a report to those who donated and I will never touch the funds for my personal projects… everything will be transparent,” said Mr. Padilla, before adding that if there is a pet project that a donor would want the money to go to, they will make sure it goes there.

But beyond Tindig Marawi, Mr. Padilla acknowledged the lack of housing in the country in general and so Tindig Marawi will soon evolve into a movement that will cover the entire country though “we’re just prioritizing Marawi right now.”

Interested parties can course their donations to the Tindig Marawi movement through the Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation, Inc., at Checking Account number: 437-7437906480 (Metrobank Fairview Regalado). – ZBC

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