Rebuilding Marawi

THE crisis in the Philippine city of Marawi is one of the most serious threats to the country’s national security in recent memory. What the Duterte administration initially thought would be a short-lived distraction turned into a protracted battle between government troops and the Maute group allied with Islamic State. On September 17, the military announced the capture of the command centre of the Mautes who have holed out in Marawi for nearly four months, during which time airstrikes were continuously launched in an effort to drive them out. In the process, the city was devastated.

Since May 23 when hundreds of armed Maute fighters occupied the “Islamic City”, more than 800 government soldiers, extremists and civilians have been killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes. Now, as the military starts the “winding up” process, it is time to think of reconstruction as well as the need to help the nearly 200,000 displaced residents.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier promised to provide 20 billion pesos ($400 million) to rehabilitate Marawi and restore it to its former glory. That figure has since changed. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, when asked how much would be needed for Marawi’s rehabilitation, pegged the amount at 50 billion pesos. In a press briefing in Malacañang days later, he pointed out that when he travelled to Marawi with the president, they saw that the destruction was “really massive” and thought 50 billion pesos would not be enough.

The Department of Budget and Management has earmarked 5 billion pesos in 2017 and 10 billion pesos in 2018 for the rehabilitation programme. An additional budget will also be provided in 2019. But these allocations will not be sufficient. In financing the reconstruction, the administration can tap the generosity of the international community despite the president’s frequent criticism of foreign governments for commenting on his bloody war on drugs. Some countries have in fact pledged financial assistance. Australia promised to give 1 billion pesos, the United States said it would provide 730 million pesos, and Japan and Thailand 100 million pesos each. The European Union also committed 49 million pesos, and China said it would give 70 million pesos for the wounded soldiers and 15 million pesos for the rehabilitation process. The administration can likewise seek financial assistance from the more affluent Muslim countries.

Moving forward, an important aspect is the appointment of an overseer for the reconstruction of Marawi. And in the crafting of the reconstruction plan, it should be very clear which agency will take the lead, with accountabilities clearly defined. The process of rebuilding – from the ground up for most infrastructure in Marawi – should follow a master plan that will restore the city’s charm before the Mautes stormed in. So far, a number of agencies and public