Nearly a thousand Marawi residents marched and staged a rally at the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium on March 20 to condemn the two-year delayed implementation of the city rehabilitation program by Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM). The action was mounted in conjunction with the conduct of a dialogue between the TFBM and the residents.

They lambasted TFBM’s inaction and challenged its chair, Edu­ar­do del Ro­sa­rio, to resign for failing to address the residents’ plight. The residents demanded that they be consulted and their demand to return to city be acted upon.

To hinder residents from returning, the TFBM claims that there are still unexploded bombs in the most affected area (MAA).

Hafsah Bint Amer Has­san, a Marawi resident, expressed his anger against TFBM. He said that two years have passed but the TFBM is yet to finish listing and categorizing residents. The rehabilitation of Boracay was prioritized more than that of their community, he added. The residents also complained against the illegal demolition of remaining houses in the MAA after the siege.