MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—City Mayor Majul Gandamra conveyed his gratitude to the national government, international donors, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and other partners of the city government for helping Marawi rise from the 2017 siege.

“After a great part of our city was left into rubbles succeeding the pointless attacks of militants, the international community has pledged their help for the city and following this, the national government under the leadership of our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has committed to restore the former glory of Marawi or even better. Up until now, the President and national government, in general, has stayed true to their promise,” he said during the commemoration program for the fourth anniversary of Marawi liberation held at the City Hall Gymnasium Saturday, October 16.

According to the mayor, after the funds of the national government have been downloaded to the various line agencies of the government, the progress and development in the most affected area (MAA) and outside the ground zero have been very consistent as can be seen through the various road networks, permanent shelters, barangay complexes, school buildings, police station, fire station, huge grand market, barangay health centers and Madrasah, water facilities, and electric facilities, among others that are currently being constructed or almost completed. 

“We could just imagine that in a short span of time which only started last July 2020, and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the development of these physical infrastructures has been successfully started and a lot of these projects are almost in completion,” he said.

Gandamra also cited the help of Task Force Bangon Marawi headed by Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario in restoring various mosques in MAA destroyed during the siege.

“We may not have achieved full recovery yet, but it is very apparent in all of the improvements currently being undertaken here in our beloved city that we are geared towards genuine and sustainable development,” he further said

The mayor is optimistic that with the support of its partners Marawi will rise from the ashes of its difficult past and be reborn as a city full of opportunities for its people. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)