HALFWAY DONE. The rehabilitation of Marawi following the 2017 siege is now about 60 percent complete, according to Housing Sec. Eduardo Del Rosario during his visit to the city on Friday (April 23, 2021). Mosques and roads are being repaired while affected residents will relocate to new housing units. (Photo courtesy of TFBM)
MANILA – The rehabilitation of Marawi City is close to meeting its December target, with the Master Development Plan now 60 percent complete and the road networks set to be finished by the end of September.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, also Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chair, said the ongoing construction of 438 housing units in Barangay Patani is likewise slated to be done by December.
“Ito ang una naming gustong matapos para 'yung mga returning residents na gusto nang magpatayo ng kanilang mga bahay ay wala nang sagabal (This is our main target to finish so that it would be accessible for returning residents who wish to build their houses)," he said in an update released Friday, referring to road repairs.
Del Rosario kicked off another three-day inspection on Wednesday in the city, the site of the five-month siege in 2017 between the military and Islamic State terrorists.
“When I was here (Marawi) last month, I said it was around 45 to 50 percent. Based on the latest presentation and our inspection (of ongoing projects), it’s now between 55 and 60 percent,” del Rosario said in a statement.
More permanent houses
After holding talks with United Nations-Habitat and the Social Housing Finance Corporation, a DHSUD key shelter agency, del Rosario assured that the permanent housing units will be finished before the end of the year.
The government is also constantly having consultations with residents affected by the siege.
“As early as last year, we have been encouraging residents to obtain necessary building permits from the local government unit so that they can start rebuilding their respective homes,” he said.
Another 3,000 permanent housing units will also be constructed inside the city's most affected areas, according to the TFBM.
Del Rosario also bared that the Department of Education plans to put up a school and mosque.
Ahead of schedule
TFBM assured unhampered construction amid Ramadan as 60 percent of the workers are non-Muslims.
The infrastructure repair of the Grand Mosque, severely damaged during the siege, is also eyed to be finished by October.
“As you will notice, napakarami nating gumagawa rito, contractor ay nagsabi sa atin na (there are many working here, the contractor told us) instead of December, it will be completed September. So before October, if ever nagkaroon ng (there is) delay, October definitely. Two to three months ahead of schedule,” he said. (PNA)
