The vibrant economic activities now prevailing in Marawi City is part of the long-term roadmap of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) towards a “new Marawi.”
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, concurrent TFBM chairman, said that economic growth is the No. 1 among the five key principles under the task force’s “The Marawi RISE Plan”.
“RISE” stands for resiliency, identity, sustainability and evolution.
“Economic opportunity is the foundation of household security and equity building, and lifts all communities toward social and financial growth,” Del Rosario pointed out.
“The roadmap must therefore not only show fancy new buildings, a good masterplan shows better opportunities for all, inclusive development,” he added.
Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra had earlier bared that normalcy and vibrant economic activities have been prevailing in 72 out of the 96 barangays in the only Islamic city in the country.
He also cited the almost 500 percent increase in revenue collections registered by the city government in 2019 as compared to collections prior to the 2017 siege.
The mayor lamented that reports are only focused on the so called “ground zero” when there are much improved economic activities outside the area due to the continuing rehabilitation works by TFBM.
Currently, the TFBM is focused on rehabilitating the ground zero composed of 24 barangays –constructing wider road networks, drainage and other public infrastructure to develop a “new Marawi.”
“We are within our timeline of completing the rehabilitation by December 2021,” stressed Del Rosario.
Marawi City was left in ruins following the five-month siege laid by the Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group on 23 May 2017./Stacy Ang
