Rising from the ashes: The ongoing rehabilitation of Marawi City

War is a terrible thing, and the troops were directly in the line of fire. Thus, when the former president visited them during the height of the battle, this made them hope. In an interview, Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Marawi, once said that the visits “boosted the fighting spirit of our troops.”

The day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon on October 17, 2017, was confirmed, President Duterte declared Marawi “liberated from terrorist influence.”

How Task Force Bangon Marawi has been leading the community forward

Based on Administrative Order No 3 issued by then-president Duterte, the task force comprises 56 member agencies working together towards the conflict-stricken city’s Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (RRR).

“Since Marawi City is [also called] the Islamic City, the national government first rehabilitated the different mosques,” says Lieutenant Colonel Roy Tapat, commanding officer of the 553rd Engineer Battalion (553EBn), 55th Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army. Currently situated at Kampo Ranao, Marawi City, their unit conducts Development Support and Security Operations in the Most Affected Area (MAA).

Barangay complexes, roads, bridges, permanent and temporary shelters, and water and solar electricity are some developments implemented in the MAA. “They even have cultural centres, stadiums, and parks which serve as recreational facilities for our Muslim brothers,” shares Tapat. “The main development is the development of peace in the area. The MAA is now safe and secure, [a place where] everybody in the community can enjoy.”

According to Tapat, the interagency task force for the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi is headed by Chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, with the assistance of task force executive director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad from the Office of Civil Defense.

“[Task Force Bangon Marawi] is composed of different subcommittees and support groups to ensure that all related concerns related to the city’s development process are appropriately addressed,” stresses Tapat. “All subcommittees are working in close coordination with local government units of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Lanao del Sur, and Marawi.”

Since the completion of different infrastructures mandated in the MAA were implemented, there is a sense of fulfilment in seeing the Maranaos and their happiness as their city is slowly being put back together. “In their eyes, the national government and different agencies help them recover—slowly but surely forgetting the conflict from years ago.”

NGOs and their unending efforts to help

“All the agencies have different roles in addressing the basic needs and services in the community,” says Tapat. 

World Vision Philippines, for example, has been there since day one for the Maranaos. In 2018, they launched a Marawi Peace and Protection Project catering to the educational needs of the youth. 

According to Rommel Fuerte, World Vision’s executive director in the Philippines, they remain “committed to protecting the children and youth of Marawi from conflict and other forms of violence. Through this project, our goals are to help strengthen systems and structures for peace and protection and to empower the children and the youth to become agents of peace.” 

Students from different barangays in Marawi are being trained as facilitators and have received orientations on Empowering Children as Peacebuilders (ECAP). With guidance from their teachers and community leaders, the children reach out to fellow children by forming peace clubs and other activities that promote peace and child protection. 

More from Tatler: Connect To Change: Educating Youth In The Philippines

The Marawi Week of Peace

Last May 17-23, 2023, the task force and other local government units, line government agencies, and partners commemorated the 6th Marawi Week of Peace.

With the theme Peace Starts with Us: Give, Work, Share, the one-week celebration showcased the “heroism of our comrades in arms, unity, resiliency and collective efforts of all the agencies involved,” says Tapat.

More importantly, “the contribution of our Muslim brothers in the rehabilitation of Marawi city, particularly the MAA, was at the forefront of the celebrations.” There is also social healing through collective and collaborative activities in delivering socio-economic support, strengthening social and spiritual development, and continuous stakeholder engagement.

“The week-long activities symbolise the government’s continuing commitment and the organisations’ convergent efforts to bring Marawi a more peaceful and prosperous society,” Tapat shares.

In a statement, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra expressed gratitude to the Task Force Bangon Marawi and the different line agencies of the government. “It has been six years since the Marawi siege, but the task force is still supporting us strongly,” he says. “To sustain the success, I encourage everyone to continue helping and supporting the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City.” 

Six years after the siege, Marawi is still building itself back up. Peace is a fragile thing, and it takes courage to maintain it. The people in Marawi are brave enough to make sure it stays. 

For Tapat, as a military officer, peace is a whole concept of harmony, friendship, and freedom from violence. As an Army engineer serving the Islamic city of Marawi, achieving peace is vital in development. “A certain place can only attain peace if [community] development happens and the delivery of basic needs and services are addressed,” he concludes.

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