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2020: Rebuilding Marawi amid health crisis

By Lade Jean Kabagani

December 30, 2020, 3:56 pm

MANILA – More than just the rehabilitation of structure, the government, through the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), is determined to bring back economic activity and social recovery in Marawi City.

Since July this year, the TFBM's 56 implementing agencies involved in the rehabilitation work in Marawi City's most affected area (MAA) or the so-called “ground zero” went full blast.

This, after President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the release of the TFBM's rehabilitation and recovery budget amounting to PHP3.56-billion, in April and May.

The government has gradually brought back economic activities in the less affected area (LAA), composed of the 72 barangays outside the MAA, making its revenue collection to dramatically increase in terms of real estate and business taxes.

The local government has recorded a revenue collection of about PHP30 million this year from a mere PHP500,000 annual collection, prior to the May 2017 siege.

Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, TFBM chairperson and government housing czar, said the government is on the right track not only in rehabilitating the city but also in modernizing the areas with cutting-edge infrastructures.

“We envision the rehabilitation of Marawi to be a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, a model for good governance and serve as a template to achieve a peaceful environment,” del Rosario said in his year-end statement.

Despite the adverse impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, del Rosario said the TFBM was able to implement major projects within the city, wherein most of these projects are slated for completion by December of 2021.

“I won’t be surprised that after the rehabilitation, maybe in 10 years, Marawi City will bloom economically and be very competitive,” he said.

Financial, livelihood aid

He said the TFBM's master development plan is still on track.

Del Rosario said the task force had carried out infrastructure and non-infrastructure interventions, including financial and livelihood assistance, to help Maranaos cope with the impacts of the war as well as to guide them in reviving their lives hit hard by the siege.

According to the TFBM, 81 percent of the targeted construction of 5,266 transitory shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been built, while the remaining figure is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2021.

These transitory shelters are located in Barangays Sagonsongan, Boganga, Dulay, and Rorogagus, the TFBM said.

"As for permanent shelters, the TFBM is keen on completing 2,000 units under the Pamayandeg sa Ranaw Residences project in Barangay Dansalan and another 1,297 permanent shelters in Barangays Dulay, Kilala, Gadongan, and Patani are now in various stages of completion, jointly by the Social Housing Finance Corporation and UN-Habitat," it added.

The TFBM said the reconstruction of the Banggolo Bridge and the Mapandi Bridge has been completed.

A pumping bridge and another similar structure in Kumatan Matampay, on the other hand, are also nearing completion.

Based on TFBM data, the government has completed the various infrastructures including AFP Maritime Outpost, City Command Center, Fire Sub-station, and corn-processing facility.

Meanwhile, the provision of electrical and water utilities is ongoing.

TFBM said it is also hastening the reconstruction efforts of other public buildings and trans-central roads in various parts of the 72 less affected barangays in Marawi.

There are also ongoing construction efforts in the most affected areas including a four-story school building, the Marawi Central Fire Station, the mall-like Grand Padian Central Market, a Peace Memorial Park, the Marawi City Museum, School of Living Tradition, and 24 barangay complexes each having their own health clinic and madrasah.

"All of these undertakings are set for completion by December of 2021," TFBM said.

Meanwhile, TFBM said rehabilitation works for the 24-kilometer road networks with underground provision for electricity and water utilities inside the ground zero are expected to be finished by the third quarter of 2021.

The TFBM eyes to complete other key facilities inside the MAA which include a multi-level car-park station, more schools for the Maranao youth, and a Lake Lanao promenade within Marawi's Lanao lake.

"Another key accomplishment for TFBM is the start of mobilization of different private partner-developers in rehabilitating various Islamic houses of praise that were either damaged or destroyed during the siege, including the Grand Mosque, the Bato Mosque, and White Mosque," the task force said.

A total of 30 mosques are set to be reconstructed inside MAA, it added.

"The task force is bent on strengthening further its coordination with the Marawi local government unit, led by Mayor Majul Gandamra, the Maranao traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to hasten the completion of rehabilitation projects and bring back full normalcy in the Islamic City," the TFBM said. (PNA)

 

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