TFBM, BARMM join hands for Marawi housing project

The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have joined hands during the launching of a new housing project for internally displaced persons in Marawi.

The project, amounting PHP125 million, is composed of two-story duplex resettlement area to be developed on a four-hectare property donated by actor Robin Padilla in Barangay Kilala.

TFBM Chairman Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, together with Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra as well as top BARMM and local government officials, broke ground for the project on Thursday, 21 January.

BARMM Deputy Chief Minister Ali Solaiman personally graced the momentous event while BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim sent his video message welcoming the presence of TFBM officials.

Also physically present was Abdullah Macapaar, alias commander Bravo, who is now  a member of parliament of BARMM.

“So makikita po natin dito ang multi-faceted rehabilitation efforts na ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan both national and local with the active participation of BARMM,” said Secretary Del Rosario, who also heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Develppment.

To be funded by BARMM and with the groundbreaking coinciding with its second anniversary, the resettlement project will have 50 permanent housing units for Marawi residents displaced by the 2017 siege.

The TFBM chief on Friday concluded a three-day visit to the country’s only Islamic City to personally inspect the status and progress of ongoing projects to pave the way for the smooth recovery of Marawi to its former glory as instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Thursday’s groundbreaking event for the BARMM housing project was the fourth such activity attended by Secretary Del Rosario.

Earlier in the day, the housing czar spearheaded the launch of the first-ever Marawi cooperative livelihood training center in Brgy. Biaba-Damag. The PHP25-million facility aims to improve the skills and capabilities of cooperative members in providing sustainable sources of income for them.

Afterwhich, Secretary Del Rosario graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Bubong Lilod Madaya Mosque. He then proceeded to the groundbreaking for the construction
of the 2nd four-story integrated school with 20 classrooms in Brgy. Moncado Kadingilan.

According to Secretary Del Rosario, the project is part of government-led efforts in providing quality education to the Maranao youth. He said that the TFBM intends to build 10 such educational facilities in Marawi.

“Nagpapagawa tayo ng livelihood training center, Mosque, DepEd (Department of Education) schools with support coming from the National government and the private sector (Mosque) while the 50 units additional housing was funded by BARMM,” he added.

Secretary Del Rosario had stated that the TFBM, together with its implementing agencies, remains on track to meeting its target completion timeline of December 2021, attesting that the ongoing infra projects are now about 30% to 40% complete. (DHSUD)