MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--As the rehabilitation of the war-torn city continues, Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) inaugurated the 10th mosque repaired inside the city's most affected area.

TFBM chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario led on Thursday, June 23, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ramadhan mosque in Barangay Moncado Kadingilan, one of the religious infrastructures damaged during the five-month siege in 2017.

"Ito na yung pangsampu na mosque na napagawa natin [this is the tenth mosque we have rebuilt] and there are two more ongoing reconstructions, for a total of 12 mosques," he said.

Del Rosario said the TFBM is doing its best to look for donors who will fund the repair or reconstruction of the other smaller mosques at ground zero.

"We are doing our best to look for funding. Hindi kasi pwedeng pundohan ng gobyerno [it cannot be funded by the government]because of the separation of church and state. Pero huwag kayong mag-alala at itutuloy natin ang ating nasimulan [but don't worry, we will continue what we started]," he further said.

One of the priorities of the government-led rehabilitation is the refurbishment of Islamic houses of worship, including the iconic Grand Mosque and Bato Mosque, through donations from the private sector and other partner organizations to help fast-track the social healing of Meranaws.

Mayor Majul Gandamra conveyed his gratitude to TFBM and Del Rosario for finding donors. He also thanked private donors for funding the refurbishment of damaged mosques in Marawi.

"Napakaimportant sa ating mga Meranaw na sa isang komunidad ng mga Muslim ay kailangang meron tayo ganitong structure. Alam ko pong napakahirap maghanap ng pondo dahil sa ang religious establishment or structure ay hindi pwedeng pondohan ng government funds or public funds. Dahil sa tulong ng ating mahal na secretary, nakahanap siya ng paraan upang e-link tayo sa mga donors," he said.

[It is very important to us Meranaws that in a Muslim community we must have this structure. I know it is very difficult to find funding because a religious establishment or structure cannot be funded by government funds or public funds. With the help of our dear secretary, he has found a way to link us to donors.]

Residents of Barangay Moncado Kadingilan are also thankful to the Task Force for repairing their mosque.

Representing them during the inauguration was Barangay chairman Nawaz Alonto Kibad Lucman who stated that the rehabilitation of the Ramadhan mosque is proof that they were not neglected by the government. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)