Some 250 internally displaced families in Marawi City received permanent housing units through the government-led Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) on Thursday.
TFBM Chairman and housing czar, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, said the latest rehabilitation project showed that the government efforts to push normalcy in the city are “still on track.”
The construction of permanent houses on a subdivision-like development in Barangay Gadongan, equipped with power and water facilities, was jointly undertaken by the National Housing Authority, international organization United Nation-Habitat and the Marawi City government.
“This is another solid proof of our commitment to bring back better Marawi and more resilient Maranaws. New homes, fresh starts for our brother and sister Maranaws,” said del Rosario, who also heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
“This is also in pursuit of our principle considering shelter as a right of every Filipino family and it is our responsibility to capacitate them, especially the underprivileged and in this case the IDPs (internally displaced persons), to have access to decent housing is resilient and sustainable communities, ” he added.
Del Rosario also led the inauguration of several public infrastructures as part of the rehabilitation efforts in the war-torn Marawi City.
The TFBM, composed of 56 implementing agencies, turnover other infrastructure projects including Traffic Control Center in Brgy. Datu Naga and a four-story school building in Brgy. Moncado Kadingilan.
Del Rosario graced the completion of two barangay complexes, equipped with a health center and a madrasah, in villages of West Marinaut and Kapantaran, located inside the Marawi’s Most Affected Area (MAA).
He previously described the modern and high-quality barangay complexes as “symbols of good governance and leadership.”
Also inaugurated is the repaired Macaorao Mosque, the sixth Islamic worship house refurbished by the task force through financial assistance from various donors.
TFBM is nearing the completion of an ongoing permanent housing project site in Brgy. Patani and the Lanao Del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc.’s power sub-station in the city.
“We remain on track to complete the rehabilitation by about 95 percent this June and will finish all the remaining projects by December this year,” del Rosario said.
Among other major infrastructure projects inside MAA are the Sarimanok Sports Complex, the Marawi Convention Center, the mall-like Grand Padian Market with ice plant, the Lake Lanao Promenade, the Peace Memorial, the Marawi Museum, and the School of Living Traditions at the Rizal Park, all are now in various stages of completion. (PNA)