Solon says Marawi rehabilitation a 'moving target', residents just want to go home

For Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Amihilda Sangcopan, the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City continues to be a "moving target." 

"It is clear that the rehabilitation of Marawi continues to be a moving target," Sangcopan said in a press briefing on Tuesday. 

"Pabago-bago po ang timeline. Pabago-bago po ang commitments sa ating mga kababayan. Delayed na po masyado ang rehabilitation ng Marawi. Pati po pagbalik ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi ay lubos na pong naantala," she added. 

(The timeline varies. Even the commitment of our government to Marawi residents varies. The rehabilitation of the city is already delayed, especially the return of the residents to their homes.)

According to Sangcopan, government officials have varying statements on when Marawi residents could go back to their homes. 

She cited previous meetings wherein the Task Force Bangon Marawi had said residents could go back to their homes last June 2019. But now, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario said those who evacuated could only return by October of this year. 

GMA News Online has reached out to Task Force Bangon Marawi and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development headed by Secretary Del Rosario to get his comment to Sangcopan's remarks but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

'A roof over their heads'

Sangcopan said Marawi residents only wish to go home and rebuild their lives. 

"They all wanted a roof over their heads that will bring back a sense of comfort when they sleep at night. They all want the feel of normalcy back, a life they used to have four years prior," Sangcopan said. 

According to the lawmaker, there is a need to revive the House sub-committee on Marawi Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation to help oversee the necessary actions that will hasten the post-disaster recovery and normalization of the most affected communities in Marawi. 

Earlier, Del Rosario said the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City was already 65% complete. 

Marawi City was destroyed following five months of fighting between government troops and ISIS-inspired Maute rebels in 2017. The rehabilitation project broke ground in October 2018. —With a report from Joahna Lei Casilao/KG, GMA News