Duterte asked not to implement Marawi rehabilitation plan

MARAWI CITY — A group of Maranaw residents of this city is appealing to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be more cautious in implementing a sweeping rehabilitation plan, saying that there has been a lack of transparency and popular participation in its planning stages.

The Ranaw Multi-Sector Movement (RMSM) released to the public an open letter to Duterte Thursday, asking him to “stop the (implementation of the) plan.”

The letter was expected to be read to residents Friday at the People’s Park here.

The group particularly raised concerns about the perspectives of an economic zone and a military camp that will be established in the city.

This was revealed by Task Force Bangon Marawi chair Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro in a meeting here last March 21 and 22.

“Mr. President: We, the people of Marawi City and those who are one with us, would like to appeal to your kind office to… stop the plan (execution),” the RMSM letter said.

RMSM, one of several Maranaw-led civil society groups here, cried foul over the planning of rebuilding initiatives because of the lack of participation from evacuees’ groups in the crafting of the rehabilitation program.

The group lamented that the state reconstruction plan does not reflect the concerns and aspirations of affected Maranaws, much less their cultural and religious traditions.

“Mr. President, we understand the urgencies that led to the war. We may not all agree to the manner it was waged and won. What we can do now is to face the future and do what is best to be done. Right now, the future seems threatening. Forces are moving that threaten to do far greater damage to our people than what the war has done,” the RMSM letter said.