Marawi rehab groundbreaking moved to a later date

The groundbreaking for the reconstruction of Marawi City's most affected area (MAA) has been pushed back from its original date of October 17 to the last week of October.

Interviewed on Balitanghali on Monday, Lanao del Sur 1st District Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong said they have to reschedule as President Rodrigo Duterte is not available on October 17.

"Ang Presidente talaga ang mag-inaugurate. I think the President is not available on that date so baka i-move nila on the 28th within this month," he said.

Task Force Bangon Marawi also released the same announcement on its official Facebook page.

October 17 is the first anniversary of Duterte's declaration of Marawi City as free from the Maute terrorist group, which occupied the city in May last year, resulting in a five-month armed conflict.

The groundbreaking for Marawi rehab was originally scheduled to take place in June but had been moved a few times due to continued delays in selecting a private developer for the project.

Adiong said the reconstruction of MAA will entail different phases and that the government adopted the Swiss Challenge to fast-track the city's rehabilitation.

"Sa ngayon I think cleared naman 'yung area na 'yan from unexploded ordnances and IEDs. Pag natapos na po 'yun papasok na po 'yung debris collection and management. I think Bangon Marawi has already identified kung sino 'yung contractor na mai-involve doon sa [debris] collection," he said.

Displaced families

Although it's already been a year, some Marawi residents displaced by the armed conflict are still taking refuge in evacuation centers, Adiong said.

"Meron pa rin pong mga pamilya na naninirahan sa evacaution centers sa Lanao del Norte," he said. "Hindi biro ang tumira sa evacuation centers lalo na yung napo-provide ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), they are only good for about six months."

"'Yung mga nakatira dyan na mga pamilya, mag-iisang taon na ang kanilang kalbaryo," he added.

He, however, said the government continues to provide assistance and relief goods to the affected families.

Land ownership issues

Adiong said that land ownership issues is one hindrance in constructing permanent shelters where the affected families may transfer to.

"Sa ngayong nagsa-scout pa rin ang National Housing Authority (NHA) kung saan sila puwedeng bumili ng lupa na mapapaglagyan ng permanent shelters," he said.

" Ang isa sa mga criteria nila, 'yung area sana na paglalagyan ng permanent shelters should be acceptable, malapit doon sa city para hindi masyadong inconvenient para sa mga titira doon 'yung transportation, 'yung malapit sa negosyo, at opisina," he added.

The assemblyman explained that the government agencies involved have to "make stringent the process by which they would enter into negotiation or transaction with land owners" in order to avoid causing other land ownership issues in the future.

"We're talking about hectares and hectares of land so kailangan talaga maganda 'yung pagka-identify  at saka 'yung mga papeles at dokumento ng lupa ay walang problema," Adiong said.

He also mentioned that a lot of partners from the private sector are willing to donate housing units for the affected Marawi residents.

Following some delays in the Marawi reconstruction timeline, Adiong said he sees nothing improper on the system in place.

"All of this, itong in place na system natin, it emanated from series of meetings, mga sub-committeee meetings. Involved diyan lahat ng mga agencies, kasama ang LGU ng Marawi at Lanao del Sur... We don't see anything improper, we just need to fast-track again," he said. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News