Cotabato City—Residents displaced by the 2017 siege of Marawi City eagerly await the implementation of the Marawi Compensation Act (RA 11696) which was passed by Congress last April.
Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong said “the passage of the law unequivocally acknowledges the people’s claim to land and property as it lends the support of the state in making sure that these claims are met with urgency.”
Adiong said the law affirms a state policy in providing compensation or reparation to families and individuals displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege for damaged properties and possession” beyond recovery.
He said the compensation law recognizes “the essence of providing reparation and compensation for persons and families whose rights were violated and whose economic, social, and cultural rights were unfulfilled as a result of armed conflicts.”
Adiong said given the extent of rehabilitation needed for Marawi City and in the context of an ongoing political transition in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the “inter-agency cooperation and intergovernmental relations with the national government would be crucial to attaining success in the implementation of RA 11696.”
Adiong, a former member of parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), noted that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054) mandates the creation of intergovernmental relation mechanisms to facilitate better coordination between the BARMM regional government and the national government.
While the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) co-chaired by former Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal has presented two progress reports to former President Rodrigo Duterte, these reports consisted mostly of administrative steps such as the turnover of properties and assets previously under the offices of the national government situated inside the BARMM Government Center.
“The IGRB and other mechanisms related to intergovernmental relations will definitely have a crucial role in the implementation of RA 11696,” Adiong said, adding that the panel will also have crucial roles to play in the ongoing political transition in the BARMM.”
The success of the political transition largely depends on Intergovernmental gains in terms of normalization and transitional justice in the Bangsamoro region.
“Apart from the rehabilitation of Marawi City, other important measures that we hope to pass in the 19th Congress will require strong institutions that can inspire strong Intergovernmental relations based on united our efforts for peace and justice,” Adiong added.