Mayor Majul Gandamra of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

Considered a young mayor at 49, Gandamra’s age belies the fact that he has seen more trouble than many on this list. In 2017, one year into his term, his beloved Marawi City got caught in a war of attrition between rogue militants and government security forces. The siege of Marawi left the city in ruins, with thousands of lives lost, families displaced, and structures destroyed.

But the fighting didn’t deter the national government and Gandamra’s office from planning, even in the heat of battle, temporary shelters for those affected. Permanent homes were later built to provide a new beginning for Marawi residents, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of Japan.

Together with Gandamra’s office, Task Force Bangon Marawi managed rehabilitation efforts after the siege, and rebuilt the White Mosque, the Masjid Marinaut, Rorogagus Health Station, and Phase 1 of the Central Fire Station. The Lilod Guimba Bridge, Banggolo Bridge, and Mapandi Bridge were among the infrastructures built to ease transportation in the area.

As of September this year, 80 percent of structures set to be built in Marawi City have already been completed. These projects are a showcase of Mayor Gandamra’s efficiency and resolve in leading his city back from the ravages of battle and into a new dawn.