Japan allots P970M more for Marawi reconstruction

Japan will finance infrastructure projects aimed at rebuilding war-torn Marawi City through a 2-billion yen (about P970-million) grant.

The grant to rehabilitate and reconstruct Marawi and its surrounding areas will be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency through an agreement with the Department of Finance.

The program will serve as budgetary support to the projects under the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan for Marawi. It will mostly cover the infrastructure sector.

Last year, the Japanese government also provided a 2.5-billion yen grant under the Philippine-Japan Economic and Social Development Program, which also included funds for Marawi’s initial reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Early this month, Task Force Bangon Marawi chair Eduardo del Rosario said that the reconstruction of the so-called ground zero, or the area where the fighting was concentrated, will already cost up to P20 billion.

Another P55 billion is needed for the comprehensive recovery of the rest of the city, del Rosario had said.

According to del Rosario, the rehabilitation of ground zero would begin in June, targeted for completion by 2021.