House approves Marawi Compensation Act

FILE Photo by RICHEL V. UMEL / Inquirer Mindanao)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved Monday the bill providing monetary compensation to those affected by the 2017 Marawi siege.

The compensation covers “qualified claimants” who lost their residential and commercial properties due to the conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and terrorist groups back in 2017 in Marawi City.

The measure grants private property owners a “replacement cost” for loss or destruction of property, which shall be based on the current market value of the improvements and structure.

The bill likewise institutionalizes the Task Force Bangon Marawi to achieve the objectives set in the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program.

A Task Force Bangon Marawi Claims and Compensation subcommittee shall also be created to process claims in line and investigate the process, and determine the validity of all claims filed.

The subcommittee shall also disburse any compensation to qualified claimants at the earliest possible time. The subcommittee shall be composed of the Commission on Human Rights and the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission.