Deputy Majority Leader Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong led on Wednesday night, July 30 members of the Marawi CSOs Convergence Group (MCCG) in personally thanking House Speaker Martin Romualdez for his consistent support for the rehabilitation of the province.

The MCCG is a broad coalition of civil society organizations, academics and local professionals who have long been involved in post-siege recovery work on the ground.

Adiong, former spokesperson for Task Force Bangon Marawi, said the group came to formally thank Speaker Romualdez and the House of Representatives for championing the Marawi Compensation Fund, a vital support mechanism for displaced residents and property owners who lost homes, businesses and land in the 2017 siege.

“They wanted to express their thanks in person because for us in Marawi, rehabilitation is not just about rebuilding structures. It’s about rebuilding lives. And Speaker Romualdez has helped push that agenda forward through legislation,” Adiong said.

According to the Mindanao solon, the Speaker played a key role in ensuring that rehabilitation priorities remained visible in the national budget deliberations year after year.

The House, under Romualdez's leadership, also supported infrastructure projects worth billions in cumulative funding since the siege, he said.

“Marawi’s recovery is not a footnote for this administration, and Speaker Romualdez made sure of that. It takes political will to fight for these funds in a tight fiscal environment,” Adiong said.

He emphasized that the city’s rehabilitation, while ongoing, is finally gaining momentum because of continued congressional support, particularly from the House leadership.

“We’ve seen how communities are slowly rebuilding. Roads have been laid, schools reopened, places of worship reconstructed. But we still have work to do, especially on livelihood, permanent shelter and ensuring that compensation reaches the right people,” Adiong said.

He added that what the MCCG did was more than a courtesy visit. “They carried with them the collective appreciation of a city that refuses to be forgotten. Marawi is grateful for the Speaker’s help, and the message was clear: please continue walking with us.”

Adiong said the meeting ended with a renewed commitment to work even more closely with the national government, guided by a sense of partnership and mutual accountability.

“Marawi’s story isn’t over yet, but we are hopeful. And part of that hope comes from knowing that we have allies in Congress who believe in the importance of justice and dignity in our recovery,” he said.