Groundbreaking for Marawi rehab set for October 17

Government planners aim to hold the groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of Marawi City's former battle zone on the first anniversary of the liberation of the city from terrorist influence.

Originally scheduled to take place in June, the groundbreaking has been moved a few times due to continued delays in selecting a private developer for the project covering ground zero that straddles 24 out of the 96 barangays.

The task force is now negotiating with Power Construction Corporation of China or PowerChina for rehabilitating the most affected area that was leveled during the five-month battle between government troops and ISIS-inspired Maute rebels last year.

The cost of rebuilding the 250-hectare area is now pegged between P15 billion-P16 billion.

"We are already prepared for the groundbreaking. Our people are now on the ground preparing for this. And since, October 17 is very significant, as the declared date of liberation of Marawi, as declared by our President," said Housing Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo del Rosario at a news conference in Malacañang on Friday.

Del Rosario, however, does not erase the possibility that the groundbreaking will be moved again to a later date if President Rodrigo Duterte could not make it on October 17.

"[W]e are open to have it one week later. But we are now doubling our efforts in the preparation of the groundbreaking activity. Because we would like to highlight the importance of this groundbreaking, and the President’s presence is very important," the government official said.

At present, the government is focused on debris clearing operations, the contract of which was awarded to FINMAT International Resources Corp. through negotiated procurement. Del Rosario said the contract for the debris management costs P75 million.

"[I]mmediately after the debris clearing, we will undertake the road networks construction with underground utilities. Once it is done, we will now proceed with the vertical structures - construct 320 classrooms, 24 barangay centers, convention center, the grand central market, school for living tradition, a four-story parking area and so forth," Del Rosario said.

He also maintained that affected residents will be back to their villages in the first quarter of 2020.

The government expects to complete the rehabilitation of the most affected area rehabilitation by December 2021. — RSJ, GMA News