TFBM to Marawi IDPs: You can count on the government

MARAWI CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- "I assure our Maranao brothers and sisters and all those affected by the siege, that you can count on the government to transform Marawi into vibrant and modern Islamic City."

This has been the statement of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Sec. Eduardo del Rosario during the virtual presser spearheaded by the Presidential Communications Operations Office through the Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs and Philippine Information Agency.

Del Rosario emphasized that the internally displaced persons of Marawi can rely on the government as TFBM intends to make the Marawi rehabilitation as a "catalyst for growth and sustainable development, a model for good governance and a template to achieve a peaceful environment."

The different implementing agencies of TFBM and the local government of Marawi City continue the full-blast construction of various infrastructure projects.

Inside the most affected area (MAA), the ongoing construction includes Grand Padian Market with Ice Plant, Peace Memorial Park, Marawi Museum, School of Living Tradition, Barangay complexes with madrasah and health centers, four-storey integrated school building, road networks with solar lamps and underground utilities consisting of primary, secondary, tertiary roads.

Through the help of private donors,TFBM also began the rehabilitation of mosques inside MAA after three Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) were already signed to pave the way for the repair of Masjid Darussalam, Masjid Disomangcop and the White Mosque through the incentivized utilization of housing developers' escrow funds.

The reconstruction of Dansalan Bato Mosque will soon commence after a groundbreaking ceremony was recently conducted.

Outside the MAA, ongoing projects include 18.97kilometer Marawi Transcentral roads consisting of 3 contract Packages, Salintubig Project, New Marawi City Jail and Marawi City Police Station.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Torogan for the traditional leaders was also held.

Del Rosario also highlighted that social interventions for Marawi IDPs were also intensified even in the midst of the coronavirus disease pandemic.

"I would like to stress that social interventions like financial, health, education, social healing including peace dialogue and livelihood assistance have been sustained immediately after the liberation in Oct. 2017 up to now," he added.

Despite criticisms on rehabilitation, Del Rosario said that the Task Force is optimistic that the city can rise as one of the country's most competitive cities.

"I am personally very optimistic that we can achieve this as we unite as one nation towards re-building our beloved and only Islamic City," he said.

Del Rosario also shared that the local government of Marawi City has recorded a dramatic increase in the revenue collection, particularly in terms of real estate and business taxes- from P500,000 prior to the siege to at least P30 million this year. (LELA/ PIA ICIC)