TRANSFORMATION The Grand Mosque, icon of Islamic faith in Marawi City, underwent major reconstruction after it was heavily damaged during combat operations to flush out militants who laid siege to the city. —FILE PHOTOS BY RICHEL V. UMEL AND DIVINA M. SUSON
MANILA, Philippines – Four years after the Marawi siege, it is clear that the city’s rehabilitation continues to be a “moving target,” Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan said Tuesday as she lamented the “delayed” recovery programs in the area.
Sangcopan said there are many questions that still have to be answered regarding the rehabilitation of Marawi City such as spending for the area’s recovery over the last four years and future government programs for the residents.
“Pabago bago po ang timeline. Pabago bago po ang commitments sa ating mga kababayan. Delayed na po masyado ang rehabilitation ng Marawi, pati po pagbalik ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi ay lubos na pong naantala,” Sangcopan said in a press briefing.
(The timeline changes. The commitments of our countrymen change. Marawi’s rehabilitation has been delayed already, and also the return of our countrymen in Marawi has also been put back.)
“It is clear that the rehabilitation of Marawi continues to be a moving target,” the lawmaker added.
Sangcopan said residents of the area “all wish to go home” and are “eager to rebuild their lives starting from houses that will protect their families from the heat of the sun and shelter during storms”
“They all wanted a roof over their heads that will bring back a sense of comfort when they sleep at nights. They all want the feel of normalcy back–a life they used to have four years prior,” Sangcopan said.
The lawmaker then underscored the need to revive the House sub-committee on Marawi recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation to oversee the necessary actions that will fast track the post-disaster recovery and normalization of the most affected communities in Marawi.
“We need this committee to provide us answers to the many questions that we and the people have. Questions like, how much has been spent for the rehabilitation of Marawi since 2018? And why do the people of Marawi strongly contradict government claims that it has already accomplished 65 percent of what was mapped in the rehabilitation program?” Sangcopan said.
The Maute group laid siege on the city for five months, starting on May 23, 2017, which led to widespread destruction of property and infrastructure and loss of lives in the Islamic city.
The siege forced thousands of local residents to be displaced and to live in temporary shelters provided by the government.
It was on October 17, 2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from terrorists after a five months of battle.