TAKING SHAPE. The Marawi Grand Mosque is under rehabilitation in this photo released Sunday (June 6, 2021) by Task Force Bangon Marawi. Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said all ongoing infrastructure projects will be finished by December and rehabilitation works within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo courtesy of TFBM Facebook)
MANILA – There is a progressive development in the rehabilitation efforts of war-torn Marawi City, particularly in the most devastated area, attested Padoman Paporo, leader of the Lanao del Sur People's Council (LDSPC).
Paporo, lead convenor of civil society organizations (CSOs) that act as third-party monitoring partners of the government for Marawi rehabilitation, lashed back at those who continuously create “public uproar against Marawi’s rebuilding process without offering any solution."
“I would really affirm that the Marawi rehabilitation inside Ground Zero is so far so good. It’s a work in progress,” Paporo said in a recent statement. "I have seen much progress ever since the construction of key public facilities went on full blast in July last year."
Paporo commended the 56 implementing agencies of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) for unhampered rehabilitation amid the coronavirus pandemic.
People should be aware of the improvements on the infrastructure projects and other recovery programs pushed by the government, she said.
“I am urging CSOs, whenever you see good things in MAA (Most Affected Areas), say it, tell the truth. And those things you haven’t seen? Shut up, stop criticizing. Let us motivate the TFBM more so that together we can beat the timeline of December 2021,” Paporo said.
Citing its recent ocular inspection at the site of the infamous 2017 siege, Paporo said the LDSPC is optimistic that internally displaced persons would be able to go back to their hometown in MAA by December this year, as promised by the TFBM.
“So as you can see, there is indeed progress. We had witnessed this over the past months,” she said.
Paporo said the construction of modern infrastructures like road networks with underground facilities, solar lamps, and traffic lights, the mall-like Grand Padian Market, mosques, and School of Living Tradition will definitely help Maranaos return to normalcy and rebuild their lives destroyed by the conflict.
“With that, we would like to thank this administration led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, that at least, na-implement, ‘yung mga sinabi niya na (it has been implemented as he said). Marawi will rise again. It has started, nakita namin, nagkaroon kami ng (we have seen it and we have gained a) ray of hope na makabalik kami doon (that we can go back there),” she added.
Meanwhile, TFBM Chair and Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario reiterated the task force is on track in completing all ongoing infrastructure projects by December and will finish the rehabilitation within the term of President Duterte.
The TFBM was created by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017, under Administrative Order No. 3 to ensure collaboration and convergence among national agencies and local government units and help displaced families recover. (PNA)
