COMMITTED to fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the only Islamic city in the country, the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has partnered with civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Lanao del Sur in closely monitoring the massive reconstruction efforts.
During a dialogue with the Lanao del Sur People’s Council (LDSPC) on Thursday night, January 21, TFBM chairman Secretary Eduardo D. Del Rosario welcomed the group as a “third party monitoring” partner.
Initially, the LDSPC asked TFBM to allow its members’ entry into Marawi City’s most affected area (MAA) once a month for ocular inspection of ongoing projects.
“You can make it every 15 days so that you can help us monitor and motivate our implementing agencies to double their efforts. We should really engage and help each other because we only have one goal – – that is to make the rehabilitation of Marawi a success,” said Del Rosario.
It was agreed during the dialogue, attended by Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, that LDSPC will designate member-CSOs to monitor specific projects inside the ground zero.
The names of the designated CSO members will be submitted to the TFBM Field Office, led by Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr. for proper coordination.
The LDSPC presented to the TFBM its 10 recommendations to bolster Marawi rehabilitation which Secretary Del Rosario and Mayor Gandamra answered point by point, to the satisfaction of the group.
Among the issues tackled were the push for the pending Marawi compensation bill, the schedule of awarding of permanent shelters, the efforts to identify and indemnify missing and dead persons, as well as the return of residents to MAA and others.
Secretary Del Rosario assured the LDSPC that the TFBM remains on track to complete most of the ongoing infrastructure projects by December this year as embodied in the master development plan.
