President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Administrative Order (AO) No. 03, creating “Task Force Bangon Marawi.”
To be headed by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), the inter-agency task force aims for the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities.
The responsibilities of Task Force Bangon Marawi include organizing and deploying of a quick response team, conducting a post-conflict needs assessment, facilitating and overseeing the construction of shelters for displaced persons, coordinating the immediate restoration of public utilities, attending to the basic needs of affected residents, providing an environment conducive to business and livelihood activities, ensuring restoration of peace and order among others.
Task Force Bangon Marawi shall carry out its functions in coordination with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It, however, may call upon the assistance of other government agencies, local government units, and the private sector.
The Secretary of National Defense, as Chair, has the operational control, supervision, and overall responsibility of the Task Force to ensure the objectives of the Order are met.
Aside from the DND Secretary, the Task Force is composed of 22 other members that include the Secretary of Public Works and Highways as vice-chair, Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff, Education Secretary, Budget Secretary, Energy Secretary, Health Secretary, among others.
Further, Task Force members have formed themselves into five sub-committees: Reconstruction, Housing, Health and Social Welfare, Business and Livelihood, and Peace and Order. It may create such other sub-committee for the necessary implementation of the order.
“Task Force Bangon Marawi shall submit monthly progress reports regarding the implementation of this Order to the President, through the Secretary of National Defense, until such time that the objectives of the Task Force have been achieved,” the AO stated.
Meanwhile, the Office of the President-Office of the Executive Secretary released a statement saying that the initiative to restore peace and security in Marawi City is not limited to military and law enforcement actions.
It added that the government recognizes the need for a unified and comprehensive effort to assure the complete rehabilitation of Marawi City.
“Task Force Bangon Marawi shall ensure that these efforts will provide the springboard for a safer and peaceful Marawi and act as catalyst for developments in Mindanao,” the statement concluded.###PCO Content