A top official of the United Nations has lauded Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) for the rehabilitation of the country’s only Islamic city following the 2017 siege.
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez, who was in Marawi for the Marawi Week of Peace, described the city’s rehabilitation as the “best rebuilding process” he has ever seen.
“We are very proud to be your partners in this rebuilding process… which needs coalitions, alliance. We are proud to see the results of our investments,” he said.
Housing czar Eduardo del Rosario, the task force chairperson, invited Gonzalez to Lanao del Sur’s Marawi City’s most affected area for him to personally witness the progress of the massive government-led rehabilitation.
Gonzalez graced the turnover of hundreds more permanent shelters awarded to internally displaced persons in Marawi City.
Gonzalez joined Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario in the awarding of the permanent shelters are part of a housing program led by the UN-Habitat in partnership with the Japanese government and the Social Housing Finance Corp. Rio N. Araja
“The major objectives of the Marawi rehabilitation can be stated into three areas, that is to serve as a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, good governance and for us to have a peaceful environment. And that is exactly the objective of the UN-Habitat in coming up with a community-driven shelter. That is also the objective of SHFC through its community mortgage program,” Del Rosario said.
“But the difference is, as far as SHFC is concerned, there is no mortgage because all of these housing projects will be given to you for free as a total grant because that was the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte. So libre lahat – lahat ng facilities, training, so that you will have a very sound and sustainable community,” he added.
He thanked the UN Habitat, government of Japan and SHFC for providing the capacity-building activities, training the residents and occupants of this very beautiful Hadiya Village.
