THE Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has inaugurated the first mosque reconstructed inside the Islamic City’s “ground zero” signaling the initial fruits of the massive rehabilitation efforts.

TFBM chairman Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario on Wednesday led the ribbon-cutting of Disomangcop Mosque after completion of the reconstruction of the religious site, which was damaged during the five-month siege laid by Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group in 2017.

Del Rosario said the repair and construction of the mosque was in compliance to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive.

“Based on the instruction of our President, we must focus on the reconstruction of mosques before any other project,” the TFBM chief said.

“What we did was simultaneously construct the different facilities and infrastructure in tandem with the refurbishment of mosques,” he added.

Apart from the Disomangcop Mosque, whose reconstruction was supported by the Ayala Group through its incentivized compliance to balanced housing program, also inaugurated during Secretary Del Rosario’s latest visit to Marawi City was the Lilod Guimba Bridge and the Rorogagus Health Station.

Last May, the TFBM also turned over the Bgy. Tolali Complex, complete with madrasah and health station, while in February, a total of 109 permanent shelters were awarded to families of internally-displaced people.

Based on his latest assessment, Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said that the overall completion rate of the ongoing government rehabilitation effort is now at 68 percent.

“Starting next month, we will either be inaugurating or turning over completed projects,” he said.

Lined up for next month are the awarding of 170 permanent housing units and ribbon-cutting for three more barangay complexes inside the most affected area.

He said the construction of road networks in Marawi’s former “ground zero” is now around 70% completed.

“The road networks are very important because these will signal for us to allow those residing in Sectors 4 to 9 to come home and build their respective houses by October this year,” the housing czar said.

“So when these road networks are completed as programmed by end of September, starting October, we will allow the entry and construction of private houses by October,” he added.