Gov’t pegs Marawi rehab cost at P72B-P75B

Around P72 billion to P75 billion would have to be spent to rebuild Marawi City and nearby towns destroyed by five months of fighting between government forces and ISIS-inspired militants last year, a government official said Friday.

Breaking down the rehabilitation cost, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson and housing czar Eduardo del Rosario said P17.2 billion would be for the development of the most affected area, composed of 24 barangays in Marawi, and P55 billion would cover the rest of the city and the towns of Butig and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur.

"It will increase [the P17.2 billion for MAA] if there are some facilities that the local stakeholders would like to have and we feel that is really needed then we will incorporate," Del Rosario said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

At least P10 billion has been allotted this year for the rehabilitation works subject to augmentation from other sources which may include development partners and the private sector.

The inter-agency task force has already chosen a consortium consisting of five Chinese and four Filipino construction companies to come up with a plan to rebuild 250 hectares of Marawi’s ground zero.

Del Rosario, however, clarified the proposal of the group, which referred to itself as Bangon Marawi Consortium, may be subjected to Swiss Challenge, which allows other interested developers to give counter proposals.

"So makikita natin dito at the end of the day, na ang winner government because we will get the lowest cost with the same quality because of the Swiss Challenge that will be conducted," he said.

Some local sectors, however, say that they are not being included in the consultations on how to rebuild their own city. While they support actions to rebuild Marawi, they said, they worry that their voices will not be heard.

The task force denied this, saying there have been 52 consultations conducted with the local government unit and other stakeholders on the rehabilitation process.

Further consultations will be conducted from April 9 to 25 with selected Marawi clans and key stakeholders such as women, youth, vendors association, barangay chairpersons, professionals, the output of which will be used in the negotiation with interested developers.

Del Rosario said the task force expects the Swiss Challenge to be completed by May 25 with the winning bidder to be announced on May 31.

"Once awarded on May 31, the groundbreaking will be on June 7 of 2018 and completion will be in the last quarter of 2021,"he said.

Duterte declared Marawi liberated in October last year after government troops killed terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute following a five-month armed conflict. More than 1,000 people, mostly terror fighters, died amid the clashes.

Clearing operations of unexploded ordnance is still ongoing in Marawi with government troops aiming to finish it by April.

Displaced residents who are from the most affected areas of the firefight are allowed to visit their homes and properties from April 1 until May 10.

They will be accompanied by military and medical teams in order to ensure their security and safety. — RSJ, GMA News