Govt to start rehab by restoring utilities

The government is ready to start the early stage of rehabilitation of Marawi City primarily focusing on restoration of basic services such as electricity, water, sanitation, health and education.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the Inter-Agency Task Force Bangon Marawi is set to meet this week “to lay the groundwork for the planning and the scheduling of all the work” needed for the early recovery stage.

“The early recovery stage is going to occur even while hostilities are ongoing. And this early recovery stage will pave the way for the preparation of the ground for the temporary resettlement area while Bangon Marawi is capacitating itself and organizing itself to embark on the full recovery at the end of hostilities,” Padilla said during the Mindanao Hour press briefing.

He said the government will proceed with its initial plan to set up tents as temporary shelters for the displaced residents.

But he said the Task Force is also looking at the creation of a “single detached cottage” for those locals who have lost their houses in the fighting between government troops and Maute terror group.

“So, hoping to make that as a six-months to one-year transition dwelling for many of the residents until such time that the areas that they used to live will have been reconstructed and rehabilitated,” said Padilla.

“Primary attention and focus for the rehabilitation, of course, will go to the basic services, initially. And what are these? The restoration of power, the restoration of water, the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation, and restoration of health services, and also educational services,” he added.

Padilla said the Armed Forces is finalizing the preparation for deployment of “well-experienced” engineers from its Engineering Units to help in the restoration of public infrastructure such as school buildings, mosques, multi-purpose centers, farm-to-market roads and health centers, among others.

He added that the Department of Education is also working with other contractors for the shipment of materials needed for the reconstruction and repair of the schools in Marawi City.

During the same press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag revealed that the number of terrorists killed in Marawi rose to 379 from 353.

Recovered high-powered firearms also grew, now at 451 or an additional of 25 firearms. Government casualties have reached 89 while civilians killed have remained at 39 and civilians rescued at 1,723.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, donations for soldiers killed in action have soared to P3.22 million while donations for internally displaced persons have reached P765,727.21.

The Philippine Airlines Foundation donated a P2-million check last Friday.