MANILA, Philippines - The Senate created yesterday a special committee to assess and review the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City.
The chamber approved a resolution filed by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito creating the special committee.
“The special committee will assess and investigate the extent of damage to property, infrastructure and facilities, such as roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, building and other structures in Marawi,” the resolution read.
“It will also study the estimated cost of construction and rehabilitation of the damaged properties, infrastructure and facilities or other matters that may be necessary for the rehabilitation of Marawi City,” it added.
According to the measure, the crisis in Marawi City resulted in major, if not total, damage to property, infrastructure and facilities such as road, bridges, schools, hospitals, buildings and other structures that will require extensive repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
The resolution added a total of 389,300 individuals were displaced in Marawi City as of July 1.
Ejercito, in moving to approve the resolution, said there are problems concerning resettlement sites, food and sustenance, health, livelihood and infrastructure, among others, that need to be resolved immediately.
“As such, it should be our priority to rebuild the ravaged city and bring back normalcy to the lives of affected Filipinos,” Ejercito said.
Pimentel said the resolution was the Senate’s contribution to President Duterte’s call for support, assistance and cooperation for Task Force Bangon Marawi.
“The extent of damage sustained by Marawi City and the large number of displaced people caused by the rebellion require a well-coordinated large-scale rebuilding effort on the part of the government,” Pimentel said.
The special committee is composed of Sen. Gregorio Honasan as chairman, and Senators Ejercito, Panfilo Lacson, Grace Poe and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV as members. – With Marvin Sy