MANILA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday led the inauguration of a shelter project in Marawi City that was ravaged by five-month fierce fighting between government security forces and terrorists last year.
Last May, a group of pro-Islamist State militants attacked and took control of parts of the southern Philippine city of Marawi. The siege, which raged for around five months, destroyed the city and claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people.
The Philippine government is in the process of rebuilding the city to pave the way for the return of thousands of city residents displaced by the fighting.
The project called The Bahay Pagasa Phase 2 Immediate Shelter and Accommodation Housing Complex that Duterte inaugurated was funded by donations from the Tarlac Heritage Foundation Inc., Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc., and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Other donors include the Marawi City local government, Department of National Defense, Corvill Agricom Inc., and East West Seed Company Inc..
The 60 semi-bungalow housing units will be built inside the one-hectare housing complex, equipped with water facilities, electrical supply, community center, volleyball and basketball courts, parking lot, as well as children's playroom and learning center.
The project also includes a vegetable and herbal garden.