By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

On the heels of his four-day working visit to Osaka, Japan and his arrival to the Philippines on Sunday, June 22, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarked on an inspection of various schools and government facilities in Marawi City this Monday, June 23.

The Chief Executive checked on the government’s continuing efforts to rehabilitate the Mindanaoan city, whose recovery continues long after a five-month armed conflict in 2017 that devastated the metropolis, displacing its residents and yielding several casualties.

Earlier Monday, President Marcos donated Starlink internet kits and school supplies to the Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) at the Marawi City Elementary School in Barangay Sagonsongan to provide teachers and students with reliable internet access within the TLS site.

The TLS program provides emergency classrooms for learners whose schools were damaged or rendered inoperable due to conflict.

PBBM inspects various sites during Marawi visit

Also included among the President’s engagements in Marawi City is the Marawi-Dansalan Integrated School, a new educational site for learners that is expected to cater up to 10,000 students upon its completion.

President Marcos also paid a visit to the Marawi City General Hospital, a 100-bed primary care facility, which he expects to be opened by August to provide health services to locals at the soonest possible time.

“Babalik ako dito. I want to [perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony] by August,” he declared.

His itinerary at the Mindanaoan city was capped off by his inspection of the Marawi Port, which he cites as a vital hub for transportation and commerce among the 18 municipalities surrounding the Lake Lanao.

“We will put others around the lake para maganda ‘yong connectivity natin,” the President said.

Moreover, the Chief Executive assured the city’s residents that the government is actively coordinating with the Department of National Defense (DND) to resolve issues regarding water supply in the locale.

“These are the main infrastructure developments that we have initiated in Marawi. Marami pa tayong gagawin,” President Marcos expressed satisfaction at the progress of Marawi’s rehabilitation, in the wake of the 2017 siege that brought the city down to its knees.

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