MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) --  Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. highlighted the importance of repairing the “social fabric” that was torn apart during the siege in 2017.

According to him, the rehabilitation of the war-torn city is not just about building physician structures but also about rebuilding the social fabric of the community in order for the affected residents to recover from the impacts of the conflict.

“Ang rehabilitasyon ng Marawi ay hindi lamang nangangahulugan ng pag-aayos ng pisikal na struktura tulad ng bahay, gusali, tulay at mga kalsada. Kinakailangan na tahiin din natin ang napunit na social fabric o hibla ng lipunan na nasira ng armadong labanan,” he said.

[The rehabilitation of Marawi does not only mean repairing physical structures such as houses, buildings, bridges and roads. We also need to repair the torn social fabric that has been damaged by the armed conflict.]

Galvez said their office is elated that through their peacebuilding initiatives together with their partners, there has been a change in the perspectives of the residents encouraging them to strengthen the culture of peace.

The OPAPP head also assured that despite the pandemic, the rehabilitation of the City is moving forward. He reiterated the commitment of the government in rebuilding the lives of the residents through the efforts of the different government agencies under Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Galvez thanked the local government units, academe, international non-governmental organizations, and the security sectors for their steadfast support and commitment to rebuilding a better and resilient Marawi. (LELA/PIA Lanao del Sur)