The groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of battle-scarred Marawi City has been moved to the first week of July as the government is still selecting the private developer to rebuild the area, authorities said Friday.
Groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the 250-hectare most affected area was initially set for the third week of June.
But Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario said Friday the government was still finalizing its negotiation with the Bangon Marawi Consortium, which proposed to rebuild the most affected area for P16 billion.
“And if there will be a successful negotiation that would be declared by Monday [June 11], then on Tuesday [June 12] the Swiss challenge will start,” Del Rosario told reporters in Malacañang.
A Swiss challenge allows other interested developers to give counter-proposals for the project covering Marawi’s ground zero that is composed of 24 out of 96 barangays in the city.
The government aims to finish by December 2021 the rehabilitation of the most affected area leveled by five-month fighting between government troops and Maute rebels last year.
Around P72 billion to P75 billion would have to be spent to rebuild Marawi and the towns of Butig and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur based on government estimates.