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Extremism in Mindanao due to poverty, says Gatchalian

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/06/27/20170627-marawi-conflict-reinforcement-fsj.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">A convoy of trucks and armored vehicles pass thru a country road after a heavy downpour to reinforce troops in other front of the fighting on Tuesday in Marawi City. The military said the Maute terrorists have been using other routes to bolster their defenses in the city. <cite>Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Extremism in southern Philippines can be traced to poverty, and the only way to counter it is by ensuring that families have enough for their basic needs, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday. Gatchalian is proposing to set up a local economic and development center in Marawi City and Cotabato City to address poverty in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)--one of the poorest regions in the country, once the situation in the area normalizes.&quot;In my opinion, the real root cause of the extremism is poverty,&quot; he said. &quot;The only way to prevent extremism is to make sure people have the basic necessities for their family.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/multimedia/infographic/05/25/17/marawi-and-lanao-del-sur-poverty-and-other-data">LOOK: Marawi and Lanao del Sur: Poverty and other data</a></li></ul>Clashes between state forces and Maute terrorists and other rebels erupted last May 23 in Marawi City, one of the poorest cities in the country.As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, government placed the death toll in Marawi City at 397, including 299 terror suspects, 71 government troops and 27 civilians.Gatchalian said, in rebuilding Marawi, the government should first focus on rebuilding hospitals, schools, roads and providing housing aid to affected people.&quot;In the short term, the government should rebuild like brand new: schools, universities, hospitals, all government facilities, roads and give out hosing aid, P20 billion will be only good for housing aid. We need to inject more for the infrastructure,&quot; he said.After this, Gatchalian said the proposed economic center can help boost investments in the region and create jobs for the people.&quot;In the medium term, I proposed to set up a dedicated local economic and development center in Marawi and Cotabato City,&quot; he said.&quot;Government should identify low-hanging economic fruits that will jumpstart the local Marawi and ARMM economy. Investments and job creation will be the main goal of this center,&quot; he added.-- report from Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Extremism in southern Philippines can be traced to poverty, and the only way to counter it is by ensuring that families have enough for their basic needs, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday.

MANILA - Extremism in southern Philippines can be traced to poverty, and the only way to counter it is by ensuring that families have enough for their basic needs, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday.