Nine years after the Marawi Siege, the Philippine government continues to present rehabilitation as a success story measured by highways, public buildings, sports complexes, and ceremonial inaugurations. Yet beneath the polished language of “recovery” lies a more troubling reality. Thousands of displaced Mranaw (People of Lanao) families still struggle to reclaim stable lives, while the state’s post-conflict framework remains deeply centered on visible infrastructure rather than human rehabilitation. Marawi today stands as a city rebuilt in appearance but still fractured in substance. Concrete has risen from the ruins of war, but justice, dignified return, and social recovery remain painfully incomplete.
The siege that erupted on 23 May 2017 between government forces and the Maute Group transformed Marawi into the site of the deadliest urban conflict in recent Philippine history. What began as a security operation escalated into a five-month war that devastated the Islamic city, displaced entire communities, and left deep psychological scars on the people of Lanao. Government records estimated that about 77,170 families, or more than 353,921 people, were displaced by the conflict, while official casualty reports documented the deaths of government troops, civilians, and militants. Entire neighborhoods within the Most Affected Area (MAA) were reduced to rubble, forcing residents to evacuate to temporary shelters and settlements throughout Lanao del Sur and neighboring provinces. In response, the Duterte administration established the Inter-Agency Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) through Administrative Order No. 3, assigning it responsibility for rebuilding the city and normalizing civilian life.
Post-Conflict Reconstruction through Infrastructure
Over the years, reconstruction has become closely associated with large-scale infrastructure projects intended to symbolize recovery and modernization. Road networks were rebuilt across the MAA, and projects such as the Sarimanok Sports Stadium, convention center, barangay halls, and Peace Memorial Park became prominent elements of the state’s rehabilitation narrative. Authorities also conducted extensive clearing operations to remove debris and unexploded ordnance (UXO), allowing portions of the city to reopen gradually. These projects undeniably reshaped Marawi’s physical landscape. However, after nine years, the deeper question is whether reconstruction has genuinely improved the lives of those most affected by the conflict. The issue is not the presence of infrastructure, but the imbalance in priorities. While roads and public infrastructure advanced slowly, many displaced families continued to wait for stable housing, utilities, compensation, and long-term support.
Life Inside the Shelters
The limits of post-conflict rehabilitation are most evident in transitional and permanent shelter communities such as Gonsongan, along with Boganga, Lakeview, Rorogagus, Bahay Pag-asa, and Bakwit Village. These sites were originally intended as temporary relocation areas, yet many families remained there for years after the siege. Humanitarian reports repeatedly documented overcrowding, inadequate drainage, poor sanitation, and limited livelihood opportunities. Families who once owned homes and businesses in the MAA suddenly found themselves dependent on aid, living in cramped settlements where uncertainty gradually became normalized. For many residents, displacement no longer feels temporary. Transitional shelters meant to provide short-term refuge gradually became long-term spaces of waiting.
Struggling for Basic Needs
Access to water remains one of the most persistent concerns for displaced communities. As of 2025, humanitarian organizations and local agencies documented irregular water distribution, rationed deliveries, and inadequate sanitation at several relocation sites. In some communities, residents relied heavily on water tank deliveries because household connections were inadequate or unreliable. Access to electricity has also remained uneven. Years after relocation, some communities still faced unreliable power and insufficient street lighting. The contrast became increasingly difficult to ignore: while 80 billion pesos were invested in roads, sports complexes, and public buildings, many displaced families continued to struggle to secure clean water and reliable electricity. Food insecurity and unstable livelihoods added further pressure. As humanitarian assistance gradually declined, many families were left dependent on irregular income opportunities while trying to recover economically from the siege’s damage.
Children Growing Up in Displacement
Children have shouldered some of the heaviest burdens of prolonged displacement. In several relocation communities, families reported difficulty accessing schools due to transportation costs, overcrowded classrooms, and unstable living conditions. For parents, recovery is not only about rebuilding homes but also about preserving a sense of normal life for their children. Yet years after the siege, many young people continue to grow up in environments marked by uncertainty and limited opportunities. The long-term effects of displacement on education and social development remain among the least visible consequences of the conflict.
Compensation and Unfinished Justice
The creation of the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) under the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act was widely welcomed as an important step toward recognizing the losses suffered by civilians. By 2025, the board had processed thousands of claims, approved P2.8 billion in claims, and disbursed approximately P2.02 billion in total compensation. Despite this progress, many survivors continued to express frustration with the slow, highly bureaucratic claims process. Families whose documents were destroyed during the war struggled to meet the documentation requirements to prove property ownership and damages. Others questioned whether financial compensation alone could ever fully address years of displacement, trauma, and disrupted livelihoods. For many residents, reparations are not simply about money. They are also about acknowledgment, dignity, and the restoration of trust.
Beyond Roads and Buildings
Nine years after the siege, Marawi remains caught between reconstruction and incomplete healing. Roads, stadiums, and memorial parks may symbolize progress, but genuine recovery cannot be measured by infrastructure alone. A city cannot be considered fully rehabilitated while many of its people still lack reliable utilities, adequate livelihoods, accessible education, and full reparations. The challenge facing Marawi today is no longer simply rebuilding what was destroyed. The greater challenge is ensuring that rehabilitation remains centered on people rather than on projects. Lasting peace requires more than physical reconstruction; it requires dignity, inclusion, justice, and meaningful participation by the communities most affected by the conflict. The siege may have officially ended in 2017, but for many displaced Mranaws, the struggle for dignified return, recognition, and genuine recovery continues long after the guns have fallen silent.
Keywords: Philippines, Marawi, reconstruction, justice, peace, conflict, conflict resolution
Raihan A. Yusoph
Raihan A. Yusoph is a faculty member in the History Department at Mindanao State University–Marawi City, Philippines. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the International Peace and Coexistence Program at Hiroshima University in Japan as a MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholar of the Japanese Government. He has presented research at international conferences across Asia, Europe, and North Africa. His research focuses on Bangsamoro studies, peace and conflict studies, and biographical studies, with publications in Scopus-indexed, peer-reviewed international books, and journals.
