QUEZON CITY – Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario has welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of a measure aimed at providing compensation to Marawi residents following the five-month siege laid by Daesh-inspired terrorists in 2017.
Del Rosario, who also heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, said the approval of House Bill No.9925 or the Marawi Compensation bill by the Lower Chamber is a huge boost to the Maranaos’ path to full recovery.
“Actually, napakagandang balita niyan na pumasa na sa third reading yung Marawi Compensation Bill para sa mga residente ng Marawi na nasira ang kanilang mga bahay sa most affected area,” the housing czar stressed.
“And because of this approval, nabuhay na ang loob ng mga Maranaos para sila ay makabangon na talaga,” he added, noting the measure is expected to give affected Maranaos more assistance to rebuild not only their properties but their lives disrupted by the siege.
While the TFBM, along with its 56 implementing agencies, is focused on rehabilitating public infrastructures like school buildings, road networks, bridges, mosques, and public markets, assistance from the bill, when enacted into law, could be used in the reconstruction of private properties like houses.
“Kaya nagpagawa tayo ng maraming mga public infrastructure, para at the end of the day, ito ngayon ang magiging catalyst for growth and development. Pero hindi makukumpleto ang ating rehabilitation kung yung mga individual home owners at school building owners ay hindi rin mabibigyan ng financial assistance para maipagawa nila ulit ang kanilang mga buildings at mga bahay,” Del Rosario said.
After hurdling the House of Representatives, the Marawi Compensation Bill would be transmitted to the Senate for the corresponding legislation.
Del Rosario expressed hope that the measure will be signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte by the end of the year or during the first quarter of 2022.
Under the House-approved Marawi Compensation Bill, families whose properties were destroyed during the five-month conflict would be given corresponding compensation for their loss.
Relatedly, Del Rosario will kick off today (Sept. 14) his regular three-day monthly inspection of the ongoing massive rehabilitation works in Marawi City.
He will be briefed by the civil society organizations, tapped as third-party monitoring, regarding the actual status of projects within MAA based on the CSOs’ monitoring. Updates on their respective projects will also be provided by officials of the implementing agencies.
Several completed projects like mosques and barangay complexes with madrasahs and health stations are scheduled to be inaugurated on Thursday. -bny
