Senator Chiz Escudero on Thursday expressed hopes that the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the war-torn Marawi City should not be similar to what happened to Leyte and other areas ravaged by Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda.’’
Escudero was referring to the snail-paced government’s reconstruction efforts delivery of services to thousands of residents displaced by the typhoon that devastated the Visayan region .
“I hope it’s not slow like ‘‘Yolanda,” Escudero told reporters on Thursday’s “Kapihan sa Senado.”
He also cited the need for a comprehensive plan in rebuilding Marawi City after the death of the terrorists’ top leaders in the city before dawn on Sunday.
“There are many deadends there. It’s an opportunity for the government to fix and correct the errors in developing Marawi before,” said Escudero.
Senator Loren Legarda, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said a 500-million subsidy for a loan facility will be available for Marawi residents, under the auspices of the Land Bank of the Philippines, to enable them to reconstruct their damaged houses.
“I am one with the many Filipinos who are calling for the immediate rehabilitation and restoration to normalcy within Marawi City,” said Legarda.
While the Department of Budget and Management has already allocated P5 billion for this year for rehabilitation, she said more funds have been allocated for the quick recovery and rehabilitation of the city under the proposed 2018 national budget.
Aside from the budget under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund for Marawi’s rehabilitation, she said the Senate also introduced additional funding to ensure the quick recovery of the whole community.
She commended the brave and gallant efforts of the soldiers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which led to the killing of terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute and urged authorities for the immediate rehabilitation of the war-torn city of Marawi.
“As the dust settles and once law and order are restored, I encourage all agencies to extend the maximum assistance this government can provide in the most urgent manner as possible.”
Sen. Cynthia Villar called on everyone to do their part in rebuilding what was left of Marawi City and help fellow Filipinos affected by the conflict, so they can go back to their normal lives.
“I welcome the news that President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the liberation of Marawi City from “terrorist influence” after more than four months of having been terrorized by the ISIS-linked Maute Group militants.
“This truly marks the start of the rebuilding of the city and the lives of its residents. I hope the displaced families can return to their homes at the soonest possible time,” she said.
She likewise acknowledged the courage and bravery of the Filipino soldiers in seizing control of the stronghold of the terrorists in the city and finally killing the terror group’s leaders.
“The valiant efforts of our troops and the sacrifice of their fallen comrades have not gone in vain,” she said
“Together with all Filipinos, we hope and pray that this will mark the end of terrorism in our country, especially in Mindanao. However, we cannot be complacent. We have to remain vigilant against any future threats to our peace and freedom. The country’s unity and the citizens’ united front are crucial for peace and order to prevail,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI), chaired by Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel, mother of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, in cooperation with the DU30 Cabinet Spouses (DCS) and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), recently launched “Puso Para sa Kaunlaran,” an organization to help the victims displaced by the war in Marawi get back on their feet.
The group is led by Pimentel together with Emily Alvarez, wife of House Speaker Alvarez and chair of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., and Betty Medialdea, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and chair of the DU30 Spouses Foundation.
The spouses met at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel to discuss the setting-up of day-care and livelihood centers in all 96 barangays in Marawi.
This is the first time that three organizations representing the spouses of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive branch banded together to help in the government’s efforts in rehabilitating provinces devastated by war or natural calamities.
“By banding together and pooling our resources, we hope that we can help the mothers who were affected by the armed conflict in Marawi, relearn skills and get back on their feet,” Pimentel said.
The plan to put up day care centers in Marawi was first suggested by members of the DCS. Pimentel said that the SSFI thought of setting up an additional room in the center to be used for livelihood trainings and seminars.
“While the children are studying, the mothers can learn skills in the other room. The aim is to make the center a place of learning for both mother and children,” Pimentel added.
Medialdea, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of preserving the culture and traditions of the people of Marawi in their efforts to rehabilitate the province.
Alvarez said the CSFI was more than willing to help craft projects and livelihood programs that could help enhance people’s skills.
“The Congressional Spouses have a project where we help the wives of inmates, and the inmates in the women’s correctional develop skills through different livelihood projects, such as making rosaries,” said Alvarez.
“If we see a product, we do our best to match it with its target market,” she added.
Pimentel said the spouses would concentrate on raising funds and resources to help in the construction of the learning centers and tapping other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the skills training programs.
“We all agree that we want to help in the redevelopment of Marawi. With our vast network of friends, and with the help of both the public and the private sector, we can do that by building permanent centers.” Pimentel said.
“We also want to take this opportunity to spread the power of prayer through the Pasa Lord Movement. We want the people to know that although our goal is to help Marawi through our day care and livelihood center project, we are also there to help them rebuild their faith through prayers,” she added.
Meanwhile, House leaders said that it is up to President Duterte whether or not to lift Martial Law in Mindanao following the recent liberation of Marawi City from Maute Group terrorists.
Reps. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela and Alfredo Garbin of Ako-Bicol party-list said only the President has the last say on the prevailing martial rule in the South.
“It does not mean that the threat of more terrorist attacks are gone because the Maute-ISIS may be just regrouping as we speak. We will have to depend on the President’s and AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines’) decision as to when will be the best time to lift martial law,” Barbers said.
Barbers, chairperson of the House committee on dangerous drugs, was referring to the killing earlier this week of terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. The killing of the two terrorist leaders paved the way for Duterte’s declaration of Marawi as freed from the terrorists’ clutches.
Albano, majority leader for the House contingent’s Commission on Appointments, shared a similar view.
“That’s the call of the Chief Executive,” he said.
Albano said only the President has all the intelligence information to guide his decision whether or not martial law should be rescinded.
“We do not have the proper intelligence assessment to come out with a proper recommendation to ask the President to lift or not to lift martial law,” Albano said.
Garbin, for his part, said that the “the premise on extending the declaration of…martial law was the continued existence of rebellion and that public safety required it.”
“We need to await a categorical report on the ground from our defense managers whether such conditions still exist,” Garbin, a Deputy Minority Leader, said.
Meanwhile, Surigao Rep. Johnny Pimentel backed the continuing implementation of martial law in Marawi despite the recent development.
“There are still clearing operations going on so I think December 31 is just fine,” Pimentel, chair of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said.