Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — The country’s housing czar and Task Force Bangon Marawi chief addressed allegations about the government’s scant funding for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, amid criticisms of delays in the project.
On Monday’s Laging Handa briefing, Sec. Eduardo del Rosario belied allegations that budgetary constraints and dependence on donations have hampered the construction of houses and establishments in the war-torn city.
“Ang lahat ng public infrastructures na ginagawa natin ay funded by the national goverment, at itong lahat ng ito ay sakto para matapos natin ang rehabilitation by December 2021,” Del Rosario said.
[Translation: All these public infrastructures being constructed are funded by the national government, and these are sufficient to finish the rehabilitation by December 2021.]
According to Del Rosario, majority of the ongoing projects are expected to finish by August or September next year, ahead of their target deadline.
These include transitory and permanent shelters, road networks, a pumping bridge, transcentral roads, the Peace Memorial Park, Marawi Museum, White Mosque, the Grand Padian Market and Ice Plant, New Marawi City Jail, and Marawi City Police Station, among others.
Those that have been completed so far are the AFP Marawi Maritime Outpost, Mapandi Bridge, Banggolo Bridge, Marawi City Substation, and the PNP Community Police Assistance Center.
Del Rosario and other local officials also held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for the construction of a general hospital in the city.
In a Senate hearing last week, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said rehabilitation funds for Marawi rehabilitation are “grossly insufficient,” and affected residents have been suffering for more than two years with the delayed completion. He also said the agency has only been “relying on donations” and official development assistance to fund the rehabilitation.
Del Rosario earlier said their accomplishment rate so far is at about 20 to 30 percent, with over ₱36 billion released for Marawi rehabilitation.
With a budget allocation of another ₱5 billion in 2021, the total appropriated funds for the project now amounts to ₱41 billion.
