Marawi City, more than five years after

Marawi City’s scenic splendor is for the oil canvasses, and many painters would dearly portray. Nestled 721 meters above sea level and overlooking the tranquil Lake Ranao, which is shining bright blue under the sun, this Northern Mindanao enclave would reinvigorate your tired spirit with one brief cool breeze.

But the memory of the bloody siege more than five years ago would dampen the otherwise gratifying retreat from the usual fast-paced urban routine which many of us have to contend with daily.

It’s difficult not to remember this dark chapter in Mindanao’s history because as the backdrop of the city’s natural beauty are structures that are ruined by the lethal exchanges between the opposing forces from the government who swore to keep our Republic’s territory intact, and militants who vowed to sow terror in the name of establishing a separate state.

After this infamous battle of Marawi, the deep scars in the city’s collective face would take long years before being fully healed. The trauma of the bitter fighting amongst brothers and fellow Filipinos would remain painfully engrained in the minds not only of its scared residents but also of our entire country. As the old wise maxim expressed, there are no real victors in war.

Direct cost of damage runs to billions of pesos. There were hundreds of houses and establishments that were totally devastated. Residential and commercial buildings were destroyed. According to official reports, the destruction would at least be worth P11 billion.

The battle collapsed bridges and destroyed roads and other basic infrastructure. Public facilities such as government offices and halls were ravaged. Schools, public markets and parks, groceries were decimated. Even religious temples were not exempted from the onslaught of this hysteria.

Victim also was the image of a city that used to symbolize that the economy will thrive under the auspices of peace, understanding and differences in faith.

Marawi City has been recognized as a vibrant commercial city that exercised laudable business and local government best practices. Almost all, especially cultural attractions, were improving until the violence erupted and burned to the ground the development that was being experienced and extolled by neighboring communities in Mindanao. The gloomy psychological impact of the siege would be understandably prolonged.

Confidence in the city’s capability to host businesses, defend peace and security, protect tourists and guests and maintain the balance among diversified interests is fairly under suspicion now. For how long? That would depend on many complex factors.

The blueprint for long-term success of the city must be urgently drawn and pursued. The basic infrastructure for a modern city is already provided.

Traveling almost three hours from the nearest Langindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, we enjoyed the smooth drive along the paved roads towards Marawi. And inside the city, easily noticeable is the network of roads that no longer bear the marks of battle not too long ago.

Adjacent to the lakeshore is the city’s current centerpiece, the Capitol Gymnasium. The awesome architectural gem would make one forget that this was the site where the rebels’ last futile stand was fought.

The seat of the local government already proudly functions, with the mayor leading his constituents towards beyond mere survival as a people. On my way back to the airport, I was fortunate to meet incumbent Mayor Majul Gandamra and listened to his narration on how he, and a handful of police officers and his loyal relatives, heroically stood against the attackers on the first few hours of a military conflict that would last not for days, but for months.

I understand, after our discussions, that much support is needed from the national government and, perhaps, the international community, to help propel Marawi to at least back to where they were in terms of economic, political and cultural strength.

Meanwhile, the uniformed services, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, must continue providing the backbone of stability.

Investments are needed. Huge aggregate of commercial activities would be the real solution to this city’s woes. This is where the government can come in. The needed environment and framework must be drawn and facilitated. For example, liberal incentives and credit facilities can be extended to their small and medium enterprises. They can be pre-linked too with assured markets.

The sooner the economic activities are encouraged and flourished, the sooner shall the people of Marawi City be again blessed with full blown progress and prosperity.