Marawi residents may rebuild homes soon — mayor

Two years after President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City as terrorist-free, officials announced that residents may return to rebuild their homes by December.

In a report by Emil Sumangil on State of the Nation Address with Jessica Soho on Wednesday, the local government clarified that residents still cannot live in the city.

"Kailangan po natin klaruhin yun. Hindi po sila pababalikin para patirahin na, kasi hindi pa liveable ang MAA. Pababalikin sila para gawin ang kanilang bahay," Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said.

"Because hindi pa tayo nakakapaglagay ng basic facilities, electricity, at water system and yun po ay gagawin ng gobyerno simultaneously with the building of the government properties," he added.

More than 16,000 residents in Marawi lost their homes due to a five-month siege of the Maute group in the city that began on May 23, 2017.

The Marawi Joint Task Force (JTF), meanwhile, said they cannot give an exact date when the city would be have water and electricity.

Gandamra, meanwhile, also called for the passage of a House bill on compensation.

"There is a pending bill before the two Houses of the congress, na kung saan humihingi ang ating mga kababayan ng compensation sa mga nasirang properties. Still pending before the Congress, and we are asking the congress to fast track this bill," Gandamra said.

National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalda Jr. said that clearing debris is the hardest component of cleanup as military officials also simultaneously detonated bombs found scattered within the city.

"Hindi namin sasabihin na 100% but we are very, very competent now that yung level ng assurance natin na safe na ang MAA (most affected area), is mataas na," JTF Builder Commander Colonel Irineo Sebastian said.

According to Sebastian, the area is no longer very dangerous because bombs have been cleared in the center part of Marawi. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News