MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has established a new body to oversee the accelerated rehabilitation of Marawi City, more than seven years after the siege.

The new body was named Office of the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development (OPAMRD) to oversee the rebuilding of Marawi City and its neighboring areas.

Through Executive Order No. 78 signed on November 28 but was made available to the press Thursday, Marcos established OPAMRD to streamline efforts aimed at the city’s rehabilitation, development, and the restoration of peace and order.

Under the directive, the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation (PAMR) will lead the new office, operating under the supervision of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP).

“The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development is hereby created to integrate, coordinate, and accelerate the implementation of all government programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) related to the rehabilitation, development, and restoration of peace in Marawi City and other affected localities,” the President said.

The OPAMRD’s key responsibilities include:

• Advising the President on matters related to Marawi’s rehabilitation and peace efforts.
• Overseeing and harmonizing government strategies and initiatives for the city’s recovery.
• Coordinating with local government units (LGUs) and agencies for program implementation.
• Monitoring Presidential directives and submitting bi-annual progress reports to the Office of the Executive Secretary and OSAP.

Marcos also called on national government agencies, LGUs, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to provide full support to OPAMRD to ensure the success of its initiatives.

Efforts to rebuild Marawi began in 2017 with the establishment of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) following the five-month siege by Islamic State-linked militants. The conflict displaced nearly 400,000 residents and left the city in ruins.

OPAMRD is seen as a continuation of these recovery efforts, with a focus on addressing long-standing challenges and expediting progress in rebuilding the city and restoring normalcy to the lives of its residents, the Palace said.