The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has finished its final inspection and will turn over all documents to the next administration before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term on June 30.
Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, the TFBM chair, thanked the local government unit and its officials, civil society organizations, local business sector, and local leaders for inspiring him “to do his job”.
“Despite our differing beliefs and cultures, we became united because of our common objective to revive this war-torn city. We have all done our share in this project. Talagang nagpursigi tayo (We really persevered),” del Rosario said in his weekly update on Saturday.
Del Rosario urged stakeholders to “never again allow” terrorism in the city that was devastated by the 2017 siege between government forces and the Maute terrorist group.
“Kung mahal natin ang Marawi City at nais natin itong umasenso pa, kailangang magkaisa tayo laban sa mga nagbabanta sa ating kapayapaan (If we love Marawi City and we want it to keep developing, we must unite against those who are threatening our peace),” he said in a statement.
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra cited del Rosario’s “selfless efforts and genuine commitment to rebuild the only Islamic City in the country” during the TFBM chair’s visit on Thursday.
“Rebuilding a city from the ground up after a traumatic event is not an easy task to fulfill. The shoes that Secretary del Rosario had to wear to spearhead every single detail in the city’s rehabilitation is so great that no other person could have done it the way he did it,” Gandamra said during the meeting with fellow officials.
Gandamra added they are “nothing but grateful for all the help that he had extended to Marawi City and its people”.
“The task that was put on his shoulders, that was very difficult, has been fulfilled with a performance that is remarkable,” the mayor said.
Sultan Nasser Disomangcop Sampaco, chair of the Marawi Sultanate League, likewise expressed his appreciation for del Rosario’s efforts to prioritize religious infrastructures in the city despite their different beliefs.
“Pambihirang opisyal. Kahit siya ay hindi Muslim at hindi Maranaw, gumawa sya ng paraan upang makahanap ng mga donor upang mapatayo at maipaayos ang ating mga mosque na nasira sa ground zero. Lahat ito ay dahil nais n’yang manatiling malakas ang ating pananampalataya bilang mga Muslim (A rare official. Despite not being a Muslim or a Maranaw, he went out of his way to find donors who could help in rebuilding and repairing our mosques that were destroyed at ground zero. He did all of this because he wanted our faith as Muslims to remain strong),” Sampaco said during the meeting.
The Marawi Sultanate League had declared del Rosario as an “adopted son”.
Aslani Cabugatan, chair of the civil society organization Siyap Ko Pagtaw Operations For People Empowerment Inc., thanked del Rosario for fully supporting Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act to benefit residents hit hard by the armed conflict.
Del Rosario said rehabilitation, recovery, and reconstruction efforts will continue as TFBM targets a 90-percent completion of physical infrastructure by the end of the third quarter this year.
Marawi residents will also be provided with financial aid they could use for livelihood, medical, agricultural, and food assistance.
The TFBM was created under Administrative Order 3 issued by Duterte on June 28, 2017, following the declaration of the government’s triumph against the terrorists. (PNA)