Residents and officials in this city have called anew for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to initiate the appointment of members to the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).

During Monday’s annual commemoration of the city’s liberation from the 2017 siege, Mayor Majul Gandamra said the President’s appointment of MCB members would help expedite the process of giving cash aid for the internally-displaced persons (IDPs).

“I understand our President is a busy person, but we do hope the recovery and rehabilitation is still part of his priorities,” he said.

The creation of MCB was established under the Republic Act (RA) 11696, or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act of 2022.

Under the law, the President is tasked to appoint the nine-member MCB.

Several civil society organizations (CSOs) have earlier expressed hope the MCB would be composed of residents who have lived most of their lives here to better understand local needs.

Under PBBM

Meanwhile, government officials have assured that Marawi’s rehabilitation will remain a priority of the Marcos administration.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Daryll Bryan Villanueva said the government remains committed to finalizing all projects to restore Marawi’s economy.

Villanueva, who represented DHSUD Secretary and concurrent TFBM Chairman Jose Rizalino Acuzar in the event, said the government “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the city’s return to progress following the 2017 siege.”

Gandamra said there are still IDPs from 24 barangays that have yet to transfer to permanent shelters, and that electricity and water have yet to be restored.

McMillan Lucman, MRCW member and Lanao del Sur Interior and Local Government provincial director, noted that even with the PHP42 billion spent for the Marawi rehabilitation, hundreds of IDPs are still unable to return home.

“We enjoin our senators and congressmen to diligently exercise their oversight function over the executive to ensure transparency in the use or misuse of these funds,” he said.

Lucman made an example of the Bulk Water System with PHP225 million released funds, of which only has a 0.38 percent progress, based on Task Force Bangon Marawi data.

“What will be the resulting actions? IDPs in Marawi require a reliable water system in the city to survive and rebuild,” he said. (PNA)