President Marcos has ordered the acceleration of the long-delayed rehabilitation of Marawi City and key infrastructure projects, including the Unified Grand Central Station, following updates presented during the eighth meeting of the Economy and Development Council.

In a statement on Sunday, March 22, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos stressed the need to fast-track implementation to restore mobility, boost economic activity, and deliver long-overdue benefits to affected communities following the five-month war against ISIS-inspired fighters in 2017.

Marcos called for a renewed push to complete the Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi (RDPGM) Stage 2, which aims to rebuild transport, water, and energy systems and restore livable communities.

The project includes the rehabilitation and construction of 26.59 kilometers of roads, bridges, drainage systems, and slope protection works.

Of the seven sub-projects, two road components have been completed, while five remain ongoing, including three roads, one viaduct, and six bridges.

As of January 2026, overall progress stands at 19.61 percent.

The project cost is proposed to increase by 26.55 percent, from P7.52 billion to P9.51 billion, due to updated requirements for civil works, consultancy services, and right-of-way acquisition.

The completion timeline, originally set for June 2027, may be extended to March 2028.

President Marcos ordered an assessment of whether the project can be completed by 2028, along with a review of funding sources and measures to prevent further procurement delays.

The council also reviewed the progress of compensation claims for Marawi residents.

As of February this year, 2,288 claims have been processed, benefiting 2,280 claimants with a total of P3.85 billion released.

Marcos underscored the urgency of completing the rehabilitation of Marawi, saying the government must deliver on its commitments to affected communities and ensure that infrastructure projects are completed without further delay.

Completed infrastructure under the Bangon Marawi program includes permanent shelters, power systems, and key facilities such as the Marawi City General Hospital, Port of Marawi, Marawi Dansalan Integrated School, Central Fire Station, and Grand Padian Market.

Ongoing projects include a bulk water supply system being implemented by the Local Water Utilities Administration, targeted for completion by May 2026.

Meanwhile, President Marcos directed agencies to ensure timely approvals for priority infrastructure projects following the delays faced by the Unified Grand Central Common Station project, which aims to connect major rail lines in Metro Manila.

According to the PCO, the contract of the design-build contractor, BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company, was terminated in May 2025 after reaching 67.03 percent completion.

It added that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting partial operations connecting LRT Line 1 and MRT Lines 3 and 7 by the first half of 2027.

With this, the PCO said Marcos tasked ordered agencies to avoid delays caused by post-facto decisions. He likewise ordered clear communication regarding contract terminations to safeguard public interest.