Duterte: Hasten Marawi rehabilitation
President Rodrigo Duterte is “satisfied” with the progress of reconstruction efforts and programs in Marawi City but he wants to hasten the completion of rehabilitation activities in the area.
Marawi was left in ruins after the Islamic State-influenced Maute group siege, in late May 2017. The armed struggle lasted for five months.
“Let’s just say we are satisfied but the President, of course, would appreciate it if it can be hastened,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing on Monday, when sought for his assessment on the Marawi rehabilitation efforts ongoing for three years now.
The Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch, a watchdog monitoring the rebuilding efforts, lamented over the weekend that there is no real liberation to speak of as far as rehabilitation is concerned, adding that “progress is slow, funds are lacking, and implementation could be improved.”
The group was also concerned that only P22.2 billion have been disbursed for reconstruction efforts out of the P60.5 billion allocated.
“The dismal amount on top of issues on disbursement and absorptive capacity in the past paint a bleak picture for us all,” the group said.
The group also bewailed the lack of any mention of plans for Marawi rehabilitation during President Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address last July.
“The President elucidated plans for national recovery and resilience that he wants to pursue for all Filipinos. But what about the Maranao who have been waiting for three fruitless years, way before the pandemic and its consequent economic crisis?” the group said.
On Sunday, Vice President Leni Robredo also called for a “more urgent approach” in the rehabilitation efforts for Marawi City, noting that thousands of residents remained displaced.
Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who also leads the Task Force Bangon Marawi, vowed last June that 90 percent of infrastructure projects in the city would be completed by December 2021 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.