Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) — The head of Task Force Bangon Marawi has expressed confidence the rehabilitation of the war-ravaged city will meet its December 2021 deadline for completion.
“I was assured by all implementing agencies that we are on the right track, still, ano, despite itong nangyaring three months na di tayo nakapagtrabaho masyado,” said task force chairman and housing czar Eduardo del Rosario in a Laging Handa virtual briefing on Thursday. “Continuous ang trabaho sa Marawi City kahit during the COVID (pandemic) contrary to the mga batikos na tayo’y tumigil din ng pagtrabaho.”
[Translation: I was assured by all implementing agencies that we are on the right track despite us being able to work less in the past three months. The work in Marawi City has continued even during the COVID(-19 pandemic) contrary to criticisms saying we also stopped working.]
However, work slowed down during the period as workers were unable to enter the area and the transport of construction materials was impeded by the lockdown, he noted.
“I was assured by (Marawi City) Mayor (Majul) Gandamra that full blast ang ating gagawing construction activities starting ngayong July kasi na-release na ng mahal na Pangulo ang pondo na ₱3.6 billion last month. At ngayon ay nagmo-mobilize na para magamit itong ₱3.6 billion to provide our contractors the capability to start construction,” explaineddel Rosario.
[Translation: I was assured by Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra that our construction activities will be on full blast starting this July, especially with the President already having released our ₱3.6 billion fund last month. And now, we are mobilizing so that this fund can be used to provide our contractors the capability to start construction.]
Government officials have earlier pushed to fast-track the rehabilitation of the city, with the Marawi siege marking its third anniversary last May 23.
In the briefing, Gandamra also noted that the pandemic has also given the city’s residents a hard time, especially since they haven’t fully recovered from the siege yet.
“[I]to naman pong pandemya na ito ay isang pagsubok muli sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Lanao del Sur and Marawi City. But I believe that Maranaos are resilient people at handa po namin lagpasan ang mga pagsubok na ito,” the official said.
[Translation: This pandemic is another challenge for our fellow Filipinos here in Lanao Del Sur and Marawi City, but I believe that the Maranaos are resilient people and we are ready to overcome these challenges.]
