MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) is keeping its determination burning as it once again echoed its strong and unabated commitment to attain the completion of the rehabilitation program implemented in the city here.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Assistant Secretary (Asec.) for TFBM Melissa Aradanas relayed the special instruction of DHSUD Secretary Jose Acuzar to utilize all available resources and finally mark the restoration program this year.

Taking this seriously, she stirred the implementing agencies to step up their efforts and expedite their pending projects. 

"Secretary Acuzar’s instructions are clear and simple. We should exhaust all means to ensure the completion of Marawi’s rebuilding process by the end of this year. Pursuant to his directive, we are urging all agencies to work double time and hasten all ongoing projects as we do our final push towards the finish line," said Aradanas.
 
Despite several ongoing projects, the TFBM nonetheless stressed that the rehabilitation program remains on track, which is believed to be attributed to the continued perseverance and cooperation of government agencies and partners toward the goal of rehabilitating Marawi and helping achieve the full healing of affected citizens.

Aradanas shared that, under the Marawi rehabilitation program, many projects have already been completed and enjoyed by local citizens.

She added that their facilitation of the long-awaited return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) is now bearing fruit, too. As such, Aradanas conveyed her gratitude to the implementers for their continuous support.

To maintain this intensity of effort, she stated that they also intend to convene the implementing agencies quarterly to give updates and guarantee that they are being strictly monitored. The most recent meeting was held, May 4, in Cagayan de Oro City.

Aradanas hoped that this inter-agency gathering would help in identifying issues and concerns that hinder the implementation of projects and then finding solutions to end them, especially since the return of the displaced residents is already foreseen with the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) already running and gearing towards fulfilling its goal of compensating the damaged infrastructure at ground zero. 

"With the newly established Marawi Compensation Board now commencing its operations, it is our duty to ensure that Marawi’s full rehabilitation goes hand-in-hand with the orderly, safe, and timely return of citizens to their homes," she said. 

Aradanas also wished that, through this meeting, the camaraderie and unity among the government agencies would be strengthened.

The TFBM then stated that of the 56 implementing agencies since the onset of the Marawi rehabilitation, only 25 are left with pending projects enforced in the said siege-wrecked city. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)