Groundbreaking of Marawi City rehab moved to July

The groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the former battle zone in Marawi City has been moved to the first week of July as the government is still selecting the private developer that will be tasked to rebuild the area.

Groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the 250-hectare most affected area was initially set for the third week of June.

However, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said Friday the government is still finalizing its negotiation with the Bangon Marawi Consortium, which proposed to rebuild the most affected area for P16 billion.

“And if there will be a successful negotiation that would be declared by Monday [June 11], then on Tuesday [June 12] the Swiss challenge will start,” Del Rosario told reporters in Malacañang.

A Swiss challenge allows other interested developers to give counter proposals for the project covering Marawi's ground zero that is composed of 24 out of 96 barangays in the city.

The government aims to finish by December 2021 the rehabilitation of the most affected area that was leveled by five-month fighting between government troops and Maute rebels last year.

Among the infrastructure and facilities to be built on the ground zero are ports and wharves within Lanao Lake, schools, and wider road networks with underground utilities for power, water, and telecommunication similar to the design of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Also to be built are sewage treatment plants, convention center, museum, parking building, peace memorial park, market, sanitary landfill, and lakeside promenade.

The task force said Gomisa Avenue will be transformed into a pedestrian street to create a commercial center similar to the bustling shopping district of Myeong-dong in Seoul, South Korea.

Around P72 billion to P75 billion would have to be spent to rebuild Marawi and the towns of Butig and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur based on government estimates. — NB/RSJ, GMA News