6 firms submit proposals to develop Marawi City

MANILA, Philippines — Six companies have offered unsolicited proposals to develop the main battle area in Marawi City, an official said on Wednesday.

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said the cost of the proposals ranged from P38 billion to P86 billion.

"We will select one from six who provided unsolicited proposals. This will be subject to a Swiss challenge so that the government can choose the best offer," Del Rosario said at a press briefing in the heavily battered city.

The housing chief declined to identify the firms that expressed interest to undertake the project. He said an interagency group composed of representatives from the HUDCC, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, finance, budget, and public works and highways departments has been formed to study the proposals.

Once the best proposal is selected, the government will look for other parties who are ready to come up with a better offer.

"For example, the best proposal costs P50 billion and another company offers a lower price for the same quality, we will choose the proposal of that company," Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the rehabilitation of Marawi City may start "by April or not later than May."

"We will make sure the central business district or ground zero will be a modern city after the rehabilitation," he said.

Marawi was ravaged by the clashes between government forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists who laid siege to the predominantly Muslim city last May 23.

Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra previously said about P90 billion is needed to rebuild the affected areas.