LEGISLATORS representing Lanao del Sur province expressed their apprehension on Wednesday, May 23, over the proposed rehabilitation plan for Marawi City.
During the briefing by the Task Force Bangon Marawi on the rehabilitation, recovery, and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur Representatives Papandayan Mauyag Jr. and Ansaruddin Adiong questioned Associate Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, task force spokesman, on the sites of the proposed infrastructure facilities to be constructed in the 250-hectare Most Affected Area (MAA) in Marawi City.
Among these are the cultural center, the Padian Market Place, the local mosques, plazas and the promenade.
"Ito ay gagawin niyo dun mismo sa MAA. If you are in Marawi wala naman vacant space diyan na paglalagyan mo ng mga ito. Kukunin mo yung mga bahay-bahay na nasira. Anong mangyayari sa may-ari ng mga bahay-bahay?" said Mauyag.
(These will be built within the MAA. There's no vacant space in Marawi. Where will you build these. If you build these where the houses were located, what will happen to the families who used to live there?)
"Ang dami niyong proposed project dito. Kung tutuusin, napakaganda nito pero what will happen to the people living sa local na yan na nandiyan na yan before pa the Republic of the Philippines was established?" he added.
Purisima said the proposal has yet to be finalized. He assured Mauyag, chair of the House committee on Muslim affairs that no land will be forcibly taken from the Maranaos.
"Based on our presentation, nothing is final yet. We are very open to the suggestion from the stakeholders that's why we are continuing with our negotiation," Purisima said.
Adiong, for his part appealed to the task force representative to consult first the residents of Maranao for their approval before pursuing the master plan.
"Saan ilalagay yung mga pinakita niyong... Kasi sa tingin ko mahirap yun e. I don't think so na yung mga malalaking ano ilalagay dun...Siguro kung mailagay man yan lahat ng mosque dun matatanggal yan. Maliit yung ground zero. Pati ako hindi ko mapicture kung pano ilalagay yan e," Adiong pointed out.
The lawmaker advised the task force to be realistic.
"Ang sa akin lang siguro, kung maglalagay kayo ng mga proyekto diyan, yun talaga totoong ilalagay. Wag tayo nag-imagine ng mga imposible. Kung ako tatanungin kung mailalagay lahat yan edi okay pero ang problema, Marawi city, ground zero maliit yan... Papano yung mga bahay na nasira, mga building, saan natin ilalagay?" Adiong said.
He added: "Yung may-ari ng mga buildings, bahay, magwawala sila pag nawala ang lupa nila."
Purisima said full implementation of the proposed rehabilitation plan for Marawi will commence in June this year. The projects are expected to be finished in December 2021.
However, he said the timeline will be adjusted if the proposal will not be finalized soon.
Purisima said the task force has been continuously conducting sectoral consultations on the proposed master plan. (SunStar Philippines)