Transitional shelters in Barangay Boganga, Marawi City built for residents displaced by the siege in May 2017, (BONG S. SARMIENTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Wednesday appealed to the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) and other concerned agencies to expedite the rehabilitation of Marawi City, which was under a five-month siege in 2017.
Dela Rosa turned emotional as he pleaded with MCB, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), and other concerned agencies to prioritize this endeavor “for the good of the country.”
Siguro kasi kayo dito kayo sa Luzon nakatira sa Metro Manila hindi niyo alam ang problema at saka yung looming problem na pwede pang mangyari kapag hindi natin mabigyan ng magandang atensyon itong rehabilitation ng Marawi,” Dela Rosa said at the hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation.
(People living here in Luzon or Metro Manila may not realize the dilemma and the looming problem that might happen if we do not focus on rehabilitating Marawi.)
“Para akong sirang plaka kada hearing yan ang palaging paalala ko sa kanila hindi ako magsasawa kahit na sabihin niyong sirang plaka kasi kung sirang plaka man ako ayaw ko na mas masira ang Marawi kapag di natin ito gagawin,” he added.
(Every hearing, I keep repeating and repeatedly reminding everyone of what needs to be done, I do not want to see Marawi neglected and in ruins.)
“Gawin niyo ito hindi lamang bilang isa sa mga trabaho ninyo kung di priority na trabaho for the good of our country dahil kapag nagkagulo ang Marawi gulo ang Pilipinas,” Dela Rosa told the committee
(Do it, not only because it is your job, but prioritize this for the good of our country. Because if chaos breaks out in Marawi, the whole country will be affected.)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier organized the MCB, which consists of nine members from various concerned agencies to restore the damaged properties and infrastructure in the city.
Under the Republic Act (RA) 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act, signed in April last year, the MCB will facilitate the overall rehabilitation of the area.
Completion of water supply projects
One of the city’s primary concerns is. its water system was still in the “design stage,” Dela Rosa said before the committee, a problem that was also cited in the first hearing last September 2022.
During the presentation of Task Force Bangon Marawi, Office Manager Felix J. Castro Jr. noted that the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) only accomplished a few projects, including the start of bulk water supply construction in the city’s most affected area (MAA) and the continuation of sewerage treatment plant construction.
Newly-appointed acting LWUA administrator Vicente Homer Revil vowed to facilitate the agency’s unfinished projects and deliver projects for approval.
“During my first seven days, I immediately asked the project managers to expedite the procurement processes and coordinate with contractors so the projects may soon be completed and must be done at the earliest possible time,” Revil said.
“I just talked with our very supportive Gen. Romeo Brauner Jr. that he will be allowing the final moving on of the project within the Philippine Army camp because that’s where our bulk water project is. Gen. Brauner positively answered the call that the contractors now can continue with the water bulk projects inside the Philippine Army,” he added.
MCB’s five-year plan
Meanwhile, the MCB Chairperson Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph said the board aims to rehabilitate Marawi City in less than five years.
Dandamun-Latiph disclosed that the board has already coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regarding the funds needed to expedite the rehabilitation process.
Within four years, she said that the board plans to accomplish the filing, evaluation, and decision of claims, as well as resolving motions for consideration on claims and turnover of the plan to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), among others.