War-shut MSU Marawi ready for opening on August 22 —military

KIDAPAWAN CITY —After nearly three months of temporary closure due to the battle between government troops and the pro-ISIS Maute terror group, the state-run Mindanao State University in Marawi City is ready for its reopening on August 22, a military official said.

Major Jessrex Molina, head of the Joint Task Force Tabang Marawi, said on Friday that the school is already prepared for the coming semester.

Monila made the announcement after the completion of the “Brigada Eskwela”–a volunteerism drive –spearheaded by the joint task force, which is composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, local officials, line agencies, and other institutions.

Faculty, staff, and students of MSU also joined the Brigada, Molina said in an interview over Catholic-run DXND.

“Despite what happened, the school’s stakeholders are hopeful everything would go back to its normal state.  This is why we’re here to help the school,” he added.

Soldiers, police and other volunteers help in the cleanup work, repainting the classrooms, and building repairs.

It was fortunate, though, the school did not incur damage during the war, Molina said.

“We, in the AFP, made sure the school won’t be destroyed by the bullets and bombs.  We know how important the school is to the people of Marawi City.” 

The MSU in the Islamic city of Marawi was founded in 1961 and it is the flagship and the largest campus of the MSU system. —LBG, GMA News