Palace satisfied with Marawi rehabilitation progress a year after siege

Workers rush to finish temporary shelters in Barangay Sagonsongan in Marawi that the government has promised to residents displaced by war. (Photo by DIVINA SUSON / Inquirer Mindanao)

Malacañang Palace is satisfied with the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in war-torn Marawi, a year after Islamic State-inspired terrorists attacked the city, which resulted in a five-month siege fought by government troops.

“We are satisfied and the President has complete trust in General [Eduardo] del Rosario,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in Filipino during a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

Del Rosario is the chairman of Task Force Bangon Marawi.

On Tuesday, May 23, Marawi will mark the first anniversary of the siege.

According to Roque, about 70 percent of the displaced Marawi residents have returned to the city, living in either temporary or permanent shelters built by the government.

He said the President might visit Marawi Wednesday but did not give details due to “security considerations.”

The President last visited Marawi on May 11 after meeting with members of the Maute Group who surrendered to the government.

“What is important is that 70 percent of the residents have gone back to Marawi, are occupying homes that we built for them, and life goes on for a greater majority of the residents of Marawi,” Roque said. “We have provided temporary or permanent homes to 70 percent of them.”

He said the government was even ahead of schedule in building the communities devastated by the siege. /atm