MANILA - The groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the former battle zone of Marawi City has been moved anew due to issues in the procurement process.

Task Force Bangon Marawi chair Eduardo del Rosario said the groundbreaking was moved to September 19 after the Chinese-led Bangon Marawi consortium was disqualified for not being financially capable to carry out the project.

Del Rosario, however, said this delay should not affect the target deadline of completing the rehabilitation by December 2021.

“We are doing this to ensure that we will get the right developer and the right specifications will be met with the right standards that we would like to have to ensure that the MAA (most affected area) rehabilitation will be in accordance with the standard that we have set,” Del Rosario said in a Palace press briefing.

Del Rosario said with the Bangon Marawi consortium now disqualified, the government is now negotiating with another developer, China Power.

He said the rehabilitation of the ground zero would cost P16.8 billion.

“But the nitty-gritty of the negotiation on the details, it will be undertaken starting today and we hope to complete it by next week,” he said.

Del Rosario said striking the deal for the rehabilitation also takes time as certain rules have to be followed.

“Kung minsan nahiya na akong humarap sa Cabinet at mag-brief kay Presidente because of that delay. Pero we have to do everything by the books. Ayokong i-violate, but at the end of the day, kami sa Task Force Bangon Marawi ang magkakaroon ng kaso – maybe after the term of the President,” Del Rosario said.