Several officials of the Task Force Bangon Marawi are facing raps before the office of the Ombudsman due to delayed rehabilitation projects in Marawi.

The complaint was filed by Datu Meno Manabilang who represents
Sowara O Miyamagoyag or the Voice of Marawi Internally Displaced Persons Association (IDPs).

The group claims that there have been no improvements in the city for the past two years due to the alleged corruption of the officials handling the rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairman Eduardo del Rosario said they are prioritizing the intervention activities of residents for the trauma they have experienced.

Del Rosario assured they are still on-track with the rehabilitation process until the given deadline in 2021.—(with reports from Mon Jocson)

Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) announced on Friday that the livelihood assistance for qualified residents of Marawi City will be distributed in the first week of April.

TFBM Chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said at a press briefing that a total of 32,000 qualified residents will receive aid amounting to P20,000 each family beginning April 6.

“On April 6 and 7, we are going to start giving the livelihood and transitional package of assistance to all residents of Marawi,” he said.

On top of this, residents from ground zero or the area mostly affected during the 2017 siege would also receive an additional P53,000 worth of financial assistance, del Rosario added.

“As of now, based on our profiling there are 32,000 qualified residents. All these 32,000 residents will be given P20,000 livelihood assistance and those residing in the most affected area will be given additional P53,000 additional by DSWD,” he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the distribution of livelihood assistance to Marawi residents.

Although efforts to reconstruct Marawi are still ongoing, del Rosario said that residents are still advised against returning to their destroyed homes.

Del Rosario explained that authorities are still clearing the area from debris and unexploded ordnance that were left in the area after the intense fighting between the government forces and the Maute terrorists.

The military previously said that most of the unexploded bombs penetrated deep into the ground and could not safely be excavated with heavy equipment. Removing unexploded ordnance has also been difficult because of lack of radar equipment to detect where exactly the bombs are.

The TFBM estimates to complete the clearing operations by September. – Robie de Guzman

Aerial view of Marawi City via UNTV Drone

MARAWI CITY, Philippines — A year since President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi City from terrorists on October 17, 2017, residents still cannot shake off the fear that a similar incident could descend upon them again.

“Yung takot di naman mawawala yun eh. Kasi ever since hindi nangyari sa amin itong ganito, tapos bigla na lang nangyari. Kaya sa puso namin may takot pa rin kami (The fear never goes away. We’ve never had any incidents until the battle broke out all of a sudden. That is why there is still fear in our hearts),” said Norfaidah Magdara, a businesswoman and resident of Marawi.

College student Salmiah Maca Agir echoed the same apprehensions.

“We feel secure na rin po pero may mga time pa rin po na natatakot ka kasi we never know po na may panahon na magkakaroon ng ganong pangyayari ulit (We feel secure in a way, but there are times that we still feel afraid because you don’t know when a similar incident will strike again),” she said.

Those who are still stuck in evacuation centers lament the long wait for the promised housing units.

“Even though sinasabi nla na liberated na nga pero yung idea na wala ka pa rin sa bahay mo wala ka pa rin sa sinasabi mong home (Even though they say we have been liberated, we still don’t have houses we can call home)” said Agir.

According to Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), debris clearing operations in the most affected area will begin this month.

By the end of October they expect to finally hold the long-awaited ground breaking ceremony of the city’s rehabilitation which will be led by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“In the next few days we will see the deployment of heavy equipment, mga gamit na gagamitin sa (and materials needed for ) debris clearing in sectors 1&2,” TFBM field office manager. Asec. Felix Castro said.

Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the local government is grateful for all the assistance being given to them; however, they admit feeling frustrated by the slow progress of the rehabilitation efforts.

“Ako’y naiinip but at the same time naintindihan ko ang ating gobyerno. Ako po ay nasa gobyerno at alam ko ang proseso. Even sa local po yung pag iimplement natin ng mga projects dumadaan sa proseso (I am frustrated but at the same time I understand the government’s side. I am part of the government and I’m familiar with the process. Even in the local level, implementations of project go through a process),” he said.

At present, life in Marawi City is slowly returning to normal, particularly in Barangay Basak Malutlut where the battle began in May 2017. — Weng Fernandez