Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) — The rehabilitation of Marawi City will be “substantially” finished within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, Task Force Bangon Marawi chief Eduardo del Rosario said Wednesday.
“Matatapos natin substantially ang rehabilitation ng Marawi City within the term of our President… Contrary sa mga bumabatikos ano, sa ating pananaw ay mabilis nga iyong ating interventions na ginawa,” Del Rosario, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, said during a televised briefing.
[Translation: We will substantially finish the rehabilitation of Marawi within the term of our President… Contrary to those who say otherwise, in my opinion our interventions were swift.]
He clarified that the construction of public infrastructure began only last year because they had to clear potentially dangerous elements that could still be underground.
“One year and four months pa lang tayo na gumagawa ng mga vertical and horizontal public infrastructures kasi two years and four months iyong ating ibinigay na timeline para sa debris management… So, hindi natin puwedeng simulan ang public infrastructure, kapag ang mga bomba na five to 10 meters below the ground ay nandoon pa rin for safety consideration,” he said.
[Translation: We have only started building vertical and horizontal infrastructure for a year and four months because we gave ourselves a timeline of two years and four months for debris management… We cannot start public infrastructure if there are bombs five to 10 meters below the ground.]
After debris was cleared in February 2020, construction then started. He said 30 projects would be finished by December this year and another 60 projects would be completed by the first or second quarter of 2022.
READ: Duterte renews vow to ‘expedite’ Marawi rehab
Del Rosario also said that there would be funds in place to finish projects even after a new president is in place.
“Assuming natin by June 30, may mga 95% completion na ang ating nagawa at may remaining 5%. Iyong pondo naman na ating inilaan para sa pag-rehabilitate ng Marawi ay nakapaloob sa mga ahensiya na nag-i-implement nito. So sila ang magpapatuloy ng implementations,” he said.
[Translation: Assuming that by June 30, there will be 90% completion and only 5% remaining. The funds for rehabilitation will be with the agencies who will implement it. They will continue to implement it.]
Among the projects mentioned by del Rosario was the distribution of permanent shelter facilities.
“Last October 16, nagbigay tayo ng 250 permanent shelter and before that, I think we had given already 370, plus 250. So more or less we have 600 plus permanent housing units,” he said.
[Translation: Last October 16, we gave 250 permanent shelter and before that, I think we had given already 370, plus 250. So more or less we have 600 plus permanent housing units.]
Along with these structures, del Rosario said livelihood assistance was also given to those living outside as well as inside the most affected area. Relief good were also continuously being delivered, he said.
A siege by pro-Islamic State militants in May 2017 led to a five-month battle in Marawi that left more than 1,000 people dead and the mosque-dotted city in ruins. The violence displaced around 127,000 families.
READ: Rehabilitating Marawi City, a promise yet to be fulfilled?
