Gov’t starts rebuilding mosques destroyed during Marawi siege

MANILA – The government has started the reconstruction and repair of various mosques in Marawi City massively destroyed during a five-month-long siege in 2017, Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chairperson and housing czar Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said Saturday.

During his visit to Marawi City, del Rosario led the ocular inspection of the ongoing repair and rebuilding efforts for the three mosques including the White Mosque in Barangay Lumbac Madaya, the Masjid Disomangcop in Barangay Daguduban, and the Marinaut Mosque.

Del Rosario said the task force is targeting to complete the rehabilitation of White Mosque worth PHP15.5 million within six to eight months period, based on its timetable.

Firm to his stand, del Rosario said the rehabilitation of Marawi is still on track.

“So ‘yung sinasabi natin na timetable na by December 2021, halos sabay-sabay na ‘yang mga infrastructure natin—yung ginagawa dito sa loob ng most affected area (MAA), horizontal and vertical projects, kasama na rin yung mga mosque na ginagawa natin (Those what we call timetable by December 2021, it involves simultaneous [construction] of infrastructure—those ongoing works inside the most affected area, the horizontal and vertical projects which also include repair of the mosques),” del Rosario said.

Del Rosario, meanwhile, reiterated that the repair will go through the incentivized use of housing developers’ escrow funds of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and other private developers.

The Masjid Disomangcop in Barangay Daguduban will be funded amounting to PHP12.25 million, del Rosario said.

The PHP150 million worth of reconstruction for the Bato Mosque, he said, is projected as the most beautiful Islamic worship house nationwide, once completed.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario said some pledges from foreign donors have yet to be materialized.

He said the rehabilitation of the mosques is significant to the social healing and recovery of the conflict-affected Maranaos.

Del Rosario earlier said the task force is set to reconstruct more or less 30 mosques including the Dansalan Bato Mosque and the Grand Mosque, using donations from dome private organizations.

The TFBM latest data shows the ongoing rehabilitation and construction works of 22 infrastructures inside the MAA and five infrastructure projects at the less affected area (LAA) along with the building of permanent shelters for thousands of displaced families in Marawi.

The task force also recorded the completion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Marawi Maritime outpost, Mapandi Bridge, Banggolo Bridge inside the MAA as well as the Marawi City Fire Substation and PNP COMPAC 1 at the LAA within the city.

On the other hand, various Marawi Sultanate leaders have expressed satisfaction over the ongoing massive rehabilitation of the war-torn city as they cited del Rosario’s “selflessness” to lead the government’s rehabilitation efforts for the war-torn city.

“The Marawi Sultanate League is always on your side with full trust and confidence, exerting full support [for] your programs and activities in the rehabilitation of Marawi,” Marawi Sultanate League Chairman Sultan Nasser Disomangcop Sampaco told del Rosario.

Sampaco also lauded del Rosario for “staying focused” on his advocacy in rebuilding Marawi despite receiving various criticisms from the government’s detractors.

“Because of del Rosario’s hard work and commitment, all major government projects are now in full blast and slated for completion by December 2021,” Sampaco said. “It’s an indication that Marawi is approaching a new era in [its] history as a world-class city with all its grandeur, modernity and colorfully unique culture.”

The five-month armed conflict in Marawi started on May 23, 2017 when members of the ISIS-inspired terrorist Maute group attacked the city.

The war between the government security forces and the Maute terrorists left over 1,100 people dead and big part of Marawi City in shambles.