DTI to feature Maranao products to help Marawi evacuees

A new government program will offer Maranaos another way of recovering from the nearly-five month armed conflict in Marawi City by allowing them to sell their products at reasonable prices through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Bangon Marawi will showcase Maranao products such as inaol or hand-woven malong and shawls, baur or wooden bowls, brassware, and costumed jewelry, GMA News' Lei Alviz reported on 24 Oras on Wednesday.

"Talagang nasira 'yung mga big-scale businesses at saka yung maliliit na negosyante nilisan nila ang kanilang mga hanapbuhay," DTI Assistant Secretary Abdulgani Macatoman said.

Maranao businessman Mamintal Salik said they were unable to sell these wares after salvaging them from the firefight.

"Marami kasing mga produkto na nasira, na nasunog dahil sa giyera. At yung ibang mga produkto na hindi nasira, hindi naman nabebenta," he said.

These wares will be sold at the DTI showroom along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City and stalls in selected shopping malls.

Part of the proceeds from items sold in shopping malls will go to internally displaced persons from Marawi City, which was attacked by the Maute terrorist group in late May, resulting in an armed conflict that dragged on for months.

"Hindi lamang nabibili nila, kung hindi natutulungan nila yung mga kapatid natin na mga Maranao na nasalanta ng giyera sa Marawi," Macatoman said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News