MARAWI CITY—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allotted an estimated $400 million (about P20 billion) worth of grants and loans to the government for the rehabilitation of this city.
In his visit, ADB Vice President Stephen Groff and his team assessed the most affected areas of the Lanao del Sur capital.
“It is important that we get the real picture of the situation [in] Marawi, and talk to government officials [as well as] beneficiaries to ensure that the package we are putting forward to our directors [will] provide the necessary kind of support,” Groff said.
The executive confirmed that the ADB is in the process of preparing for the rehabilitation program focusing on the city’s 24 barangays heavily damaged by the strife.
As part of the process, Groff and other ADB officials met with local counterparts and interacted with displaced families still housed in a temporary relocation site in Barangay Sagonsongan.
He said the ADB’s rehabilitation package includes infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges, as well as water supply and sanitation, social infrastructure, reconstruction of schools, health centers and hospitals.
“This is a major undertaking and we are encouraged by the dedication of the local government of Marawi and of Lanao del Sur on their focus of putting this reconstruction effort,” he said.
The ADB official then proceeded to the most affected area in the city, or what is known as “ground zero,” to inspect the proposed roads, bridges and other infrastructure totally damaged by the siege.
“Our assistance [will concentrate] more on infrastructure elements,” Groff noted, and added they are leaving the housing projects to the government, as well as other partner agencies.