‘Marawi rehab projects to go full blast’

MANILA, Philippines — Rehabilitation and recovery projects in Marawi City, which were stalled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, will go full blast in July.

Human Settlements Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who also chairs the Task Force Bangon Marawi, said the Office of the President recently approved the release of a Special Allotment Release Order amounting to P3.56 billion to fasttrack the completion of various projects.

Del Rosario said the National Housing Authority would receive the lion’s share of the budget amounting to P1.91 billion while the Social Housing Finance Corp. would get P155.7 million for its permanent shelter program.

The Marawi City government will receive P558.2 million for the construction of several public facilities, including barangay and health centers as well as Muslim schools.

The Local Water Utilities Administration will receive P766.5 million; Department of Public Works and Highways, P80.2 million, and Department of Education, P3.3 million.

Part of the budget allocation is the construction of a 1,500-linear-meter fence across the Mindanao State University worth P20.9 million to protect students against security threats.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government through the Philippine National Police will get P48.5 million for the construction of a tourist police building and a maritime building.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Ministry of Agricultural Fisheries and Agrarian Reform will get P91.3 million.

”Despite the adverse effects of COVID-19 in all sectors, we are confident that our December 2021 target date completion is manageable and attainable,” Del Rosario said.