Marawi rehab 95% completed by end of Duterte’s term

MANILA, Philippines — The government said the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City is expected to be 95 percent complete by the time President Duterte ends his term next year.

This despite delays in the rehabilitation works in the past few months due to consistent downpour in the area that hindered construction and prolonged the curing period for concrete structures.

Task Force Bangon Marawi and Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said more projects would be completed by year-end and the first quarter of next year.

“I am certain that we can finish at least 95 percent of all major infrastructure projects by June 2022, and I can assure everyone that the few remaining projects will surely be completed because they are already funded and for implementation by the concerned agencies,” he said.

The full-blast rebuilding of infrastructure and public facilities in Marawi started in July 2020 after the budget was released in May.

The TFBM recently turned over the Grand Mosque to the administrators.

The Local Water Utilities Administration also broke ground for the construction of the bulk water facility that will supply five million liters of potable water.

Ongoing construction include school buildings, slaughterhouses, and permanent shelters, among others. The construction of road networks is also in the final stages.

At least 30 projects, including mosques and barangay complexes, will be completed by December while more than 60 projects will be finished in the first half of 2022.

In terms of temporary shelters, some 4,900 have been completed while over 600 permanent housing units have been turned over to beneficiaries.