BARMM official calls for Marawi rehab completion

MARAWI CITY - An official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is calling for the completion of the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City.

BARMM Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali Solaiman, chairperson of the Special Committee on Marawi, said fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the residences of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is among the current priorities of the provincial government.

"Sa Lanao del Sur, ang pinakamahalagang concern ay ang IDPs sa Marawi rehabilitation program," Solaiman told GMA News Online in Maranao on the sidelines of the celebration of the fourth founding anniversary of the BARMM on Thursday. 

"Isa rin sa priority ng Lanao del Sur ay matapos ang rehabilitation program at wala ng problema sa loob ng Ground Zero at matirahan na ang mga kabahayan sa Lanao del Sur," he said. 

The rehabilitation of Marawi began following a five-month fight between government troops and the ISIS-inspired Maute group that ravaged the Mindanaoan city in 2017.

In June 2022, then Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said infrastructure rehabilitation projects in Marawi were 72% complete. 

Del Rosario also said that the TFBM's completion target, established before President Rodrigo Duterte's term ended on June 30, 2022, has not been met.

Meanwhile, Solaiman said the celebration of BARMM's establishment was vital to "promote awareness on the importance of the Bangsamoro region."

"Ito yung proseso kung bakit nakuha ng BARMM ang struggle na hinahanap naming mga Bangsamoro," he said. 

Other Bangsamoro parliament members present at the event were Khalid Hadji Abdula, Amrusi Makatanong, Basit Abas, Said Shaik, and Marjonie Macasalong. —VBL, GMA Integrated News