Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao / Lanao del Sur
Marawi
Marawi City remains in a long recovery from the 2017 siege, with a mix of open areas and active rebuilding zones nine years later. Task Force Bangon Marawi was formally dissolved in December 2023, with operations wound down by March 2024. Rehabilitation work has continued under individual national agencies rather than the centralized task force. Stage 2 road reconstruction, covering 26.59 kilometers of roads, bridges, drainage, and slope protection, was 19.61 percent complete as of January 2026. Total cost rose from ₱7.52 billion to ₱9.51 billion, with completion expected by March 2028 instead of the earlier June 2027 target. The Lake Lanao port was completed and inspected by President Marcos on June 23, 2025. The ₱261.5 million facility includes a 132-seat passenger terminal, a fish port, berthing for fast craft, and a RoRo ramp. The port opens inter-barangay trade and passenger connections on the lake. The Marawi Compensation Board has processed 1,465 payments totaling ₱2.447 billion as of late 2025. This covers about 10 percent of the 14,495 registered claimants. More than 12,300 claims remain unresolved, with documentation bottlenecks slowing approvals. The 2026 national budget allocated ₱1 billion to accelerate the process. Approximately 8,200 people remain in temporary shelters, paying monthly rents of ₱500 to ₱1,500 on privately-owned land after original agreements expired. The National Housing Authority completed at least 1,310 permanent shelter units in Barangays Kilala and Gadongan Mapantao, though distance from workplaces and markets limits uptake. Mindanao State University's Marawi campus continues full operations with over 69,000 students and approximately 3,100 faculty members. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is constructing a ₱534.7 million Integrated Cold Hub Complex at Marawi Port, targeting 2029 completion.
Marawi at a Glance
- Visitor safety:
- Public areas can be visited with current local guidance, but the post siege rebuilding zones require extra care and respect
- Known for:
- Lake Lanao, Maranao culture, Islamic education, MSU-Marawi, and the long recovery after the 2017 siege
- Main route:
- Road access from Iligan: 30 km, about 38 minutes by car or van on the national highway
- MSU-Marawi:
- Mindanao State University Marawi campus is fully operational with over 69,000 students and about 3,100 faculty. The campus above Lake Lanao is the city's main public anchor.
- Compensation status:
- Marawi Compensation Board has paid about 10 percent of the 14,495 registered claims as of late 2025. Over 12,300 claims remain unresolved.
- Lake Lanao port:
- Completed June 23, 2025. Includes 132-seat passenger terminal, fish port, fast craft berthing, and RoRo ramp. Cost ₱261.5 million.
- Lake Lanao
- Marawi city center
- MSU-Marawi
Local context
Marawi's current mayor reference on this page is Sharif Zain Gandamra. 2025 public office directory records list Sharif Zain Gandamra as Marawi mayor from June 30, 2025.
Marawi is linked to local place pages including Lake Lanao, Marawi recovery. Those pages help separate the city guide from a generic location summary by giving readers concrete markets, parks, transport corridors, civic districts, and visitor routes to compare.
The city profile emphasizes Lake Lanao, Marawi city center, MSU-Marawi. These points give the page a practical local frame instead of treating the city as only a name on a regional map.
Landmarks and orientation points
- Lake Lanao
- Marawi city center
- MSU-Marawi
Frequently Asked Questions About Marawi
Is it safe to visit Marawi in 2026?
A careful visit is possible in public areas, especially with local contacts or guidance. Visitors should check current advisories, avoid restricted rebuilding zones, dress modestly, and treat the city as a recovering community rather than a sightseeing site.
What can visitors see in Marawi now?
Visitors usually focus on MSU-Marawi, Lake Lanao views, public parks, restored civic landmarks, mosques visible from public areas, and places cleared for ordinary access. The exact status of the Most Affected Area should be checked locally.
How do you get to Marawi from Iligan?
The usual route is by road from Iligan through the Iligan to Marawi corridor. Vans and other public transport operate depending on terminal schedules and security conditions, while private vehicles should check current road guidance.
What should non Muslim visitors wear in Marawi?
Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees, avoid revealing clothing, and bring a scarf if entering or approaching religious spaces where local guidance asks for it. Ask before taking photos of people, homes, or worship areas.
Are Marawi rebuilding landmarks open to the public?
Some restored public spaces and landmarks may be accessible, while residential blocks, construction zones, and sensitive sites can remain restricted. Check with the city tourism office or local authorities before entering the Most Affected Area.
What is the rebuilding status in 2026?
Marawi in 2026 is a city where some areas are back to ordinary daily life while others remain tied to active construction, land disputes, and unresolved displacement. Task Force Bangon Marawi was dissolved in December 2023 after completing 164 projects worth 17 billion pesos. The second phase of road rehabilitation, spanning 26.59 kilometers, had reached a progress level of 19.61% in early 2026, with a final completion target set for March 2028. The Most Affected Area at the former city center has sections under rebuilding and restricted access alongside areas cleared for ordinary movement. MSU-Marawi, the Lake Lanao port, public markets, mosques, and city hall are all functioning. A respectful visit starts with local guidance on which roads and landmarks are accessible. Avoid treating reconstruction zones as sightseeing sites, ask before photographing people or homes, and understand that families are living through recovery while managing school, work, and daily life.
What can you visit at MSU-Marawi?
The university campus is highly active, hosting a student body of over 69,000 along with approximately 3,100 faculty members. The campus sits above Lake Lanao and connects the city to students from Lanao del Sur, BARMM, and wider Mindanao. MSU offers Islamic studies, sciences, engineering, business, and graduate programs. A Campus Summit event in June 2026 drew thousands of students and alumni. The university is the most practical anchor for visitors wanting to understand Marawi beyond the siege narrative, showing the city’s Islamic educational tradition, Maranao scholarship, family networks, and active student life.
What should I know about Lake Lanao?
Lake Lanao is central to Maranao identity, geography, and livelihood. The name Maranao is commonly understood as people of the lake, and the lake shapes settlement, food, stories, royal houses, trade, and the view from many parts of the city. It also links Marawi to the Agus River hydropower system that matters to Mindanao’s electricity supply. Treat the lake as a cultural landscape, not only scenery. Maranao okir design, malong use, brassware, food, and mosque architecture all belong to the same world of lake-based identity. Access to lakefront areas should be guided by local advice, because public viewpoints, private land, and community spaces are not the same.
What is happening with compensation for Marawi siege victims?
The Marawi Compensation Board opened for claims in 2022. By October 2025, it had processed 1,465 payments totaling 2.447 billion pesos of the 3.044 billion pesos it had resolved. However, 14,495 residents registered claims, leaving more than 12,300 unresolved. Documentation requirements have been a significant bottleneck, as many residents lost property records during the siege. An allocation of 1 billion pesos was set aside in the 2026 national budget to fast-track these pending claims. Most eligible claimants who remain unpaid have been waiting more than three years as of late 2025.
How many people are still displaced from the 2017 siege?
Approximately 8,200 people were still living in temporary shelter arrangements in 2025, nine years after the siege. Although the National Housing Authority built 1,310 permanent housing units in Barangays Kilala and Gadongan Mapantao, relocation has been slow due to their distance from schools, markets, and employment centers. Those still in transitional housing pay monthly rents of ₱500 to ₱1,500 on private land after original free-stay agreements expired. A significant number of displaced families settled in Iligan City, about 45 minutes to one hour from Marawi, where they pay regular rent while maintaining ties to work and family in Marawi.
What is the Lake Lanao port and what does it change for Marawi?
The new harbor facility located in the Ground Zero sector was completed in June 2025 following a presidential inspection. Constructed with a budget of 261.5 million pesos, it features a 132-seat terminal, docking space for fast crafts, a dedicated fish port, and a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ramp. Before this setup, lake transport was limited to small motorized boats. The modern terminal significantly eases inter-municipality trade and ferry travel. Additionally, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is building a 534.7 million peso Integrated Cold Hub on-site, scheduled to open by 2029 with ice plants and research laboratories to boost Lanao's fishing industry.
Source note
2025 public office directory records list Sharif Zain Gandamra as Marawi mayor from June 30, 2025.