MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur--More permanent shelters are scheduled to be awarded to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the coming weeks pending revalidation of the beneficiaries.
This was among the good news delivered by government implementing agencies and NGO-partners to Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario during Tuesday afternoon's projects update briefing.
The National Housing Authority (NHA), the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), the local government of Marawi City and the UN Habitat reported that around 170 permanent housing units have been completed and now ready for awarding.
"We intend to award these permanent shelters to the beneficiaries next month," said Secretary Del Rosario, who also heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development which has NHA and SHFC as attached agencies.
Last February, 109 permanent shelters inside the Hadiya Village were awarded to IDPs.
Secretary Del Rosario presided over the latest briefing where implementing agencies provided updates on their respective ongoing projects as part of the massive rehabilitation efforts in the war-torn Islamic City.
Also high on the agenda were the completion of road infrastructure projects inside the Most Affected Area (MAA) slated this October, the establishment of telecommunication facilities, installation of a water system as well as the electrification of other areas.
Representatives from local and international non-government and civil society organizations actively participate in Tuesday's project briefing at the Task Force Bangon Marawi Field Office inside MSU Compound in Marawi City. TFBM Chairman Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario presides over the monthly briefing to ensure that all major infrastructure projects are completed within the December timeline. (DHSUD)
Members of various civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Lanao del Sur actively participated in the briefing, reporting their own assessment of the rehabilitation works.
Also present during the briefing were DHSUD Undersecretary Zyril Carlos, TFBM Field Office Manager Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr., Mayor Majul Gandamra, Marawi Sultanate League Chairman Sultan Nasser Sampaco and other stakeholders.
“I reiterate that the rehabilitation remains on track and most of the ongoing infrastructure and public facilities will be completed by December of the year,” the Secretary Del Rosario added.
Highlighting Secretary Del Rosario’s Marawi visit this week – his sixth for 2021 – is the inauguration of the Lilod Guimba Bridge, the Disomangcop Mosque and a barangay health station in Barangay Rorogagus East.
Aside from inaugurating the said facilities, Secretary Del Rosario carried out ocular inspections at several other ongoing projects across the Islamic city, including the soon-to-be-finished Marawi Museum, the School of Living Tradition, the Marawi Traffic Control Center and the Dansalan Bato Mosque.
The TFBM chief also inspected transitory and permanent housing sites in the city. (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development)
