MANILA — Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has set the groundbreaking rites for Marawi rehabilitation on Oct.17, exactly one year after President Rodrigo Duterte declared liberation of the war-torn city from “terrorist influence”.
“Since October 17 is very significant as the declared date of liberation of Marawi, as declared by our President, so we find it fitting that the groundbreaking will be on October 17 also,” TFBM chairman, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, said in a Palace press briefing on Friday.
Del Rosario said the task force has deployed people in Marawi to prepare the groundbreaking rites.
He said FINMAT Corporation, a local company, will undertake the debris clearing in the six-hectare pilot area of the ground zero, or most affected area (MAA).
“The initial pilot is worth PHP75 million,” he said.
Del Rosario said negotiation is ongoing for the construction of road networks with underground utilities as well as 320 classrooms, 24 barangay centers, convention center, grand central market, school for living tradition, and a four-storey parking area.
He bared the first developer has actually offered PHP3.25 billion, but it was reduced to PHP75 million offered by FINMAT.
“Now, in the road networks, in the previous developer, it was PHP207 million per kilometer, including underground utilities. But in the second developer, it was down again to PHP175 million. So we are, I think, it’s fortunate for us because we are lowering the cost but with the same or even better quality,” del Rosario said.
“So everything is being undertaken now to ensure that we get the right price and the right quality,” he added.
Power China, he said, has partnered with FINMAT with 75-25 percent arrangement in a bid to win the whole rehabilitation works except for debris clearing.
He said PHP15 billion to PHP16 billion is expected to be used for whole rehabilitation of the 250-hectare ground zero covering 24 barangays.
The rehabilitation works are targeted to be finished by 2021, he added. (Jelly Musico/PNA)
