HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS. Mindanao Deveopment Authority (MinDA) Deputy Executive Director Romeo M. Montenegro says historical and cultural dimensions should be considered in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City. During Wednesday’s Habi at Kape at the Abreeza Mall, July 12, Montenegro said various sectors are now discussing how to help in rebuilding Marawi City. (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – An official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said rebuilding the war-torn city of Marawi should also include the city’s cultural and historical structures.
“It is not only about rebuilding destroyed infrastructures such as commercial establishments or residential houses. It is not just about erecting doors that have been destroyed. This time around, making available of the opportunity to put back the kind of structures and the buildings that reflect the culture and history of Marawi,” MinDA Deputy Executive Director, Romeo M. Montenegro told reporters in a press conferece at Habi at Kape at the Abreeza Mall here on Tuesday, July 12.
It has been since May 23 that the ISIS-linked Maute group attacked the Marawi City that triggered President Rodrigo Duterte to declare Martial law in the whole island of Mindanao.
Although the Armed Forces of the Philippines has not set any date when the fighting will last, the government is already starting the plan for the city’s rehabilitation.
Montenegro said part of the discussion of the different clusters assigned to facilitate the rehabilitation is to take account of the recommendations of the National Historical Institute and other volunteer architects in terms of designs of the buildings and houses that will be rebuilt in the city.
Montenegro said the structures of buildings in Marawi used to have very distinct and unique design, thus it is important that the said dimensions be integrated.
He also mentioned that Maranaos will also be part of the consultation process.
“Historical and cultural in the context that the people themselves, the Maranaos, the families that had been affected should be part of the process and therefore the consultation process will make sure that they are also part of the effort to implement the construction is pursued along that line,” Montenegro said.
Apart from the constructions, Montenegro said they will also make sure that the people affected by the crisis will be able to live their normal lives by providing financial support to spur economic activities.
“A major element in the entire reconstruction effort is making sure that it is able to reconstruct and to bring back the entrepreneurial dynamism of the Maranao people,” Montenegro said.
Montenegro said they are currently proposing to fast track the institutionalization of an “Islamic financial scheme.”
“We’re going the route of having the current bill in Congress particularly amendment of the Al-Amanah Bank law legislated and amended so that once it is approved we now have that specific and operational mechanism to implement Islamic finance particularly piloting it in the Marawi reconstruction,” Montenegro said.
Montenegro cited that there are elements in Islamic finance that is peculiar and specific to Muslim culture. He said the new mechanism will help the residents to work well based on their culture and practices.
Montenegro said one major difference of the Islamic finance mechanism from other conventional financing transactions is that Islamic finance process does not impose interest.
He said the proposed mechanism will also pave way for countries in the Middle East countries to channel activities in financial assistance. (davaotoday.com)
