Road networks in Marawi finished by Q3 2021 —task force chief

The road networks in war-torn Marawi City will be completed in the third quarter of 2021, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario said Wednesday.

During the Commission on Appointments' deliberation of Del Rosario's appointment as Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Representative Florencio "Bem" Noel said that based on the original timeline for Marawi rehabilitation, the road infrastructure should have been 50% completed by now.

"It started last week and will be completed in the third quarter of 2021," Del Rosario said in response as he admitted delay in the actual implementation.

"Na-delay tayo ng actual implementation because of the budgetary consideration when it was released to the National Housing Authority as the implementing agency," he added.

Del Rosario said the NHA is working double time and that the completion will still be within the intended timeline of the most affected area's rehabilitation until December 2021.

Marawi City Majul Usman Gandamra confirmed that the construction of road networks has already commenced.

"The road network started last week and the timeline given to contractors, binigyan po sila ng anim hanggang walong buwan para tapusin itong road network and I think with our strict monitoring, together with Task Force Bangon Marawi, I'm sure that this will be done on the timeline given by the national government," Gandamra said.

Noel said the TFBM better stick to the timeline and pronouncements it makes as he lamented that the housing units for Yolanda victims in Eastern Visayas is still incomplete, almost seven years after the disaster happened.

"Frustrated kami rito, seven years nang naghihintay. Bahay lang ang hinihingi namin. Ito buong community, na nandiyan na lahat," he said.

The ISIS-inspired Maute group laid siege in the Islamic City of Marawi in May 2017, resulting in an armed conflict that lasted for around five months, destroying 24 barangays within the city and displacing thousands of families.

Noel requested an updated timeline for Marawi rehabilitation projects from Del Rosario, who has repeatedly said the completion will be in December 2021.

This is the third time that Del Rosario appeared before the CA this month, and it seems like he is going through the eye of a needle as the body once again suspended the deliberations of his appointment.  —KBK, GMA News