Housing czar Eduardo del Rosario, who is also the chairperson of Task Force Bangon Marawi on Tuesday lauded the Senate’s approval on third reading of the Marawi Compensation Bill, saying it is a “huge boost” to the Maranaws.
He welcomed the measure to help the Maranaws affected by the 2017 siege rebuild their lives.
The bill aims to provide compensation for the loss or destruction of private properties brought about by the five-month battle between government forces and Daesh-inspired terrorists more than four years ago.
“The Task Force Bangon Marawi welcomes the Senate’s approval of the Marawi Compensation Bill as a huge boost to the morale of our Maranaw brothers and sisters who were affected by the infamous 2017 siege.
They have long been clamoring for this legislation, and hopefully, it will soon be enacted into law,” Del Rosario said.
“This will ensure the totality of the government-led rehabilitation of Marawi City with the reconstruction of public infrastructures, which is now in the final stages. The compensation bill’s final approval will allow private individuals not only rebuild their properties but also rebuild their lives,” he added.
Senate Bill No. 2420 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act got 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstentions.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, who voted “yes” to the bill said, Senate Bill No. 2420 “spells out the method of submitting and assessing claims, the mechanism of compensation, the management—which is under a nine-person Board, their mandate, the means of resolving conflict and addressing appeals. Even priority areas are enumerated.”
He added that “this bill must be fully and faithfully funded as it would hasten the healing of a wounded land and a hurting people. It is the missing link in making Marawi better than it was before.”
“In fact, the idea this bill espouses should have been the cornerstone of Marawi’s rehabilitation, and not a mere afterthought. This should have been the foundation, not the capstone,” Recto said.