Duterte wants Marawi rehab efforts ‘fast-tracked’

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on October 5, 2020. ALBERTO ALCAIN/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Three years after Marawi City’s liberation, President Rodrigo Duterte wants rehabilitation efforts for the war-torn city “hastened”, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that while the administration is “satisfied” with efforts done to reconstruct public facilities which were slowed down by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Duterte would want rehabilitation expedited.

“Let’s just say that we are satisfied but the President of course would appreciate if it could be hastened,” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Last July, Roque said efforts to rehabilitate Marawi never stopped despite the prevailing health crisis.

He said Duterte may have decided not to mention the Marawi rehab updates in his penultimate state of the nation address because infrastructure and housing developments are still ongoing.

Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chairman and housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said rehabilitation is on track and will meet the December 2021 deadline to finish rehabilitating the city.

“I reiterate that we will complete the rehabilitation of Marawi by December 2021. As promised by no less than our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte — Marawi will rise again as a prosperous city,” he said.

Del Rosario said the task force is set to fully restore the entire electric and water system in the 24 barangays’ most affected areas in Marawi city.

In February 2018, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 49 expediting commencement of projects in the city’s affected areas.

The EO is meant to simplify documentary requirements and procedures to hasten the start of rehabilitation projects.

Under the Administrative Order No. 3 issued by Duterte on June 28, 2017, the TFBM was created to facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Marawi.

It also seeks to help displaced families to recover from the tragedy brought by the Marawi siege in May 2017.

On October 17, 2017, Duterte declared Marawi City free from the terrorist Maute group.

The crisis in the city started after the group seized the city on May 23, 2017, which prompted Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2019.