Malacañang remembers fallen soldiers in Marawi seige

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday paid tribute to fallen soldiers who risked their lives during the five-month battle to retake Marawi City from the invasion of Islamic militants in May 2017.

“Today, as we remember Marawi, we pay tribute to the heroism of our fallen men in uniform during the siege of the Islamic City,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

The Marawi battle is a five-month-long clash between government troops and IS-inspired local militants, Maute Group. The siege started on May 13 and ended in October after terrorist leaders were killed.

Roque also acknowledged Marawi citizens for being “patient and supportive” to the government’s projects to rehabilitate the city.

“We thank the people of Marawi for their patience and support to the government as we are also grateful to our partners and allies for continuously working with the Administration to ensure Marawi’s successful rehabilitation,” he said.

According to Roque, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has ramped up its efforts to build permanent shelters for displaced persons in Marawi.

“TFBM (Task Force Bangon Marawi) adds that government is targeting to build 3,580 units of permanent shelter to be completed in the first quarter of 2021,” he said.

A report from the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) stated that NHA has programmed 4,866 transitional shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the city. Of the number, 2,911 units were occupied by the IDPs.

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Housing chief Eduardo del Rosario to lead the rehabilitation of Marawi as residents complain about the slow completion of projects in the war-torn city.