Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario vows to complete the rehabilitation of Lanao del Sur’s Marawi City within the timetable in December 2021.
At a news conference in Quezon City, Del Rosario said the Marawi rehabilitation would be completed within the remaining two years and four months of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Our timetable for completion will be within the term of President Duterte. And we are on target,” he stressed.
This year, the department would focus on the construction of vertical infrastructure that could be as high as an eight-story building, he said.
“We have the budget because for 2019 and 2020, we have the fund to support the Marawi rehabilitation,” he told reporters.
On May 23, 2017, militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq, along with local terrorist groups Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group attacked Marawi City in a five-month long siege.
Del Rosario thanked the Senate’s special committee on Marawi City rehabilitation for holding its recent public hearing at the Mindanao State University in Iligan City to find for a “final solution” or the “ultimate solution” so that the rehabilitation could be finished.
“We are really thankful to the Senate committee for its concern to the ongoing efforts of Task Force Bangon Marawi,” he said.
Del Rosario heads the task force.
“Rest assured that the task force will take all the recommendations and assessments of our good senators positively,” he said in a statement.
“The visit of our senators clearly indicated that they are one with us in our efforts to rebuild a peaceful and a progressive new Marawi,” he added.