President Marcos Jr. Streamlines Marawi City Rehabilitation Efforts
MANILA: In a significant move to expedite the rehabilitation of Marawi City, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued an order to institutionalize and streamline the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the area. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the coordination among various government agencies and ensuring timely completion of projects in Marawi and other affected localities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Under Administrative Order (AO) 14, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on December 22 on behalf of the President, all government agencies involved in Marawi’s recovery are directed to expedite the completion of their respective projects and activities, in coordination with the concerned local government units. This directive comes as part of the administration’s efforts to facilitate the city’s comprehensive recovery from the damage it sustained.
The order assigns specific roles to various departments: The Department of the Interior and Local Government is responsible for maintaining peace and order, while the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development oversees housing projects for affected residents. The Department of Public Works and Highways is tasked with restoring public utilities and repairing infrastructure. The Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are to ensure residents’ basic needs, and the Department of Trade and Industry is charged with revitalizing business and livelihood activities.
AO 14 also addresses the role of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), initially created under AO 3 and amended by AO 9 in 2017. While TFBM has a supervisory role in overseeing the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program, the actual execution of projects rests with the designated government agencies.
The order highlights bureaucratic inefficiencies as a cause for delays in the past and mandates TFBM to wind up its operations by December 31, 2023, and be deemed ‘functus officio’ by March 31, 2024. As part of this wind-down, TFBM is required to revert any remaining balance in its Trust Fund to the Office of the President, conduct an inventory of assets, and submit a comprehensive report.
AO 14 repeals previous orders that established TFBM, emphasizing the need to rationalize functions for efficiency and coherence in bureaucracy, in line with the Rightsizing policy. This move aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Marcos administration, focusing on improving bureaucratic efficiency.
The publication of AO 14 in the Official Gazette marks its immediate effect, although Malacañang has yet to release a copy of the order.