President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed the immediate opening of the Marawi City General Hospital (MCGH), a 100-bed primary healthcare facility in the war-torn city.

“We are giving the contractors and all government agencies a deadline of August to open the hospital so it can start serving the public,” Marcos said.

During his visit to several rehabilitation sites, Marcos reported steady progress in Marawi’s ongoing infrastructure projects, nearly seven years after the 2017 siege.

The MCGH, a Level I public health facility established in the aftermath of the conflict, is part of the government’s broader effort to restore essential healthcare services in Marawi and surrounding towns.

Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi Jr., Director IV of the Department of Health (DOH), briefed the President on the hospital’s current status. While the facility is already connected to the power grid, Marcos noted that a standby generator is still needed to ensure continuous operations.

According to Legaspi, the hospital is in its final construction stage and expected to be fully completed by September 2025. Preparations for its full operations include the recruitment and training of medical personnel.

The project is being implemented in two phases. Phase 1, which focused on land development, was funded with P51.98 million from the Office of the President and completed in September 2022. Phase 2, which began in June 2022, covers construction of the hospital itself and has a budget of P293.6 million.

Finishing works, such as painting, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installations, are ongoing across all three floors and ancillary facilities.

The hospital is expected to serve more than 207,000 residents of Marawi and nearby municipalities in Lanao del Sur. It also aims to reduce the strain on the Amai Pakpak Medical Center, which has long been operating beyond capacity.

The DOH–Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (CHDNM) is overseeing the hospital’s construction as part of the national government’s broader post-conflict recovery plan.

More projects nearing completion

During his visit, Marcos also inspected other key facilities nearing completion, including the Marawi City-Dansalan Integrated School, Marawi Port, and Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) in Barangay Sagonsongan.

At the Marawi Port, Marcos described the site as a vital transport hub that connects 18 municipalities around Lake Lanao. He announced that additional ports would be constructed to improve regional connectivity.

He also cited ongoing efforts to address water supply issues, with coordination underway between government agencies and the Department of National Defense, which manages parts of the infrastructure.

While acknowledging that challenges remain, Marcos said the rehabilitation progress underscores the government’s commitment to long-term recovery.

The Marawi rehabilitation program is considered one of the Philippines’ most complex post-conflict reconstruction efforts, aiming to rebuild homes, public services, and infrastructure destroyed during the five-month battle between government forces and extremist groups in 2017.