The Bato Mosque, as seen through a narrow alley in main battle area one year after the siege of Marawi, May 21, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News



MANILA - The government on Friday revealed the list of infrastructure and facilities it plans to build on the so-called ground zero of war-torn Marawi City, including underground power and telecommunications cables similar to what can be found in the country’s premier financial district.

The Task Force Bangon Marawi said at least P16-billion will be set aside for the rehabilitation of the city’s “most affected area,” composed of 24 of Marawi’s 96 barangays which saw the heaviest fighting between government troops and Islamic State terrorists last year.

The task force, led by housing czar Eduardo del Rosario, said the most affected area’s power and telecommunication lines will be built underground, similar to those found in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, where the bustling Bonifacio Global City financial district is located.

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The other infrastructure and facilities to be built in the ground zero include a 1,500-seating capacity convention center, the Grand Padian Market, the Peace Memorial Park and Heroes Monument, a central transport terminal, ports and wharves along the Lanao Lake, a museum showcasing the Maranao culture, a tertiary 100-bed hospital, and a lakeside promenade.

The government also plans to build 16 2-storey school buildings and a 10-hectare sanitary landfill.

The city’s Gomisa Avenue will also be transformed into a pedestrian street teeming with commercial establishments reminiscent of the Myeong-dong shopping hub in South Korea, the task force’s video presentation said.

Del Rosario said construction of all the infrastructure within the most affected area will take about 3 years.

The area will be developed by the Bangon Marawi Consortium, a group of Chinese and Filipino firms. The consortium’s proposal will be subjected to a Swiss challenge.

Del Rosario said negotiations between the government and the consortium are now on the final stretch. He said the Swiss challenge, which has been delayed several times, may finally be held on June 12. Groundbreaking of the site will be on the first week of July, he added.