(Eagle News) — The government plans to turn war-torn Marawi into a commercial and tourism hub in Mindanao, a military official announced on Thursday, as rehabilitation efforts went underway.
In an interview over dzbb, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief Edgar Arevalo said the plan was to make Marawi known not only as a city that defeated terrorism, but also as a city that rose from the ashes to become a magnet for businesses and tourists.
“So far, ang narinig natin, it will be one of the commercial hubs in Mindanao…Yung Agos River ay gagawing parang sa Paris. Pwede siyang lagyan ng river cruise at ‘yung gilid ng ilog ay lalagyan ng parang boulevard,” Arevalo said.
On Nov. 2, President Rodrigo Duterte designated housing czar Eduardo del Rosario as head of Task Force Bangon Marawi.
He made the announcement days after he declared the city free from the clutches of local terrorists in October.
The Department of Public Works and Highways has said it was planning to create two teams for the repair of infrastructure in Marawi, which was declared freed from the clutches of terrorists who overran it in October.
The agency said one team will undertake the repairs in the “war zone,” while another will be in charge of the “safe zone.”