By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA -- The military has cleared all roads leading to Marawi
City’s main battle area (MBA) where fighting raged for five months against
Maute group.Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief Col. Edgard
Arevalo said recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing
in the war-torn city.
“Our construction engineers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy have
been working day in and day out to ensure that 100 percent of the primary roads
and bridges in the MBA of Marawi are passable and cleared of unexploded
ordnance and improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” he said.
More than 500 military engineers are currently deployed in Marawi City
as part of the Joint Engineer Task Group (JETG) led by Brig. Gen. Arnold
Fernandez.
The task group is supporting the recovery, reconstruction and
rehabilitation operations being led by Task Force Bangon Marawi.
As of this report, the JETG has completed the ground preparation of
portions of temporary resettlement area in Sagon-songan while clearing
operations continue in the MBA.
“Aside from engineer manpower, we have utilized our construction
vehicles and equipment to clear-off rubbles and debris as well as in the
demolition of buildings in the city’s MBA. We are yet to identify possible dump
sites locations for the unexploded ordnance and IEDs,” Arevalo said.
Equipment used in the ground development operations are dozers, pay
loaders, backhoe loaders, skid steers, road graders, and excavator.
The JETG is also tasked to support the restoration of essential
services such as water and electricity to selected government centers, and
places of worships.
Among the establishments that need repair and rehabilitation are St.
Mary’s Church, Grand Mosque, and Bato Mosque.
“The AFP lauds our combat engineers who, in the first weeks of the
Marawi Crisis have been present in the main battle area to support our
operating units. As we transition to the rehabilitation phase, their services
will significantly be needed in order to successfully get Marawi back on its
feet,” AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero
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