Press Release
October 1, 2017

AMBUSH INTERVIEW ON MARAWI REHABILITATION | LANAO DEL SUR PROVINCIAL CAPITOL, MARAWI CITY

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SEN WIN: First of all gusto kong magbigay ng pasasalamat at ipaabot ang pinakamataas kong respeto sa ating Armed Forces, kay Gen. Galvez, sa PNP, sa kanilang sakripisyo dahil binigay nila ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya para ma-secure at mabalik sa normal ang Marawi. Right now ang trabaho ko is to bring back what I observe at itong mga nalaman natin dahil nag-convene na po itong Special Adhoc Committee for Marawi Rehabilitation in which I am a member. So, we will now jumpstart the process of allocating funds, analyzing what is needed for the rehabilitation especially kung ano pa ang pwede nating maitulong sa ating tropa.

Q: As Chairman of the [Senate Committee on Economic Affairs], meron po ba kayong package na ibibigay sa Marawi?

SEN WIN: Isa sa mga tinanong natin doon sa Adhoc Committee on Rehabilitation ay kung ano ang pwede nating mainvest sa Marawi para ang ekonomiya ay umangat kaagad dahil ang importante na gumugulong ang ekonomiya para ang tao ay kumikita, para may pera sila. Two things na na-identify ng NEDA, first, Marawi is a center of commerce, so ang kanilang market, ang kanilang bagsakan, ang kanilang trading houses dapat ma-rehabilitate agad. Pangalawa, Marawi is a center of education, yung MSU and other educational facilities dapat maayos din dito dahil sentro ito ng Lanao and we want to make sure that itong mga economic facilities nila ay maayos kaagad.

Q: Maipapasok kaya o maihahabol sa General Appropriations Act or GAA ang pwedeng budget especially for the rehabilitation of Marawi?

SEN WIN: Another good question dahil budget season na ngayon kaya sinusubukan naming matapos ang GAA by December. Ang initial number na lumalabas ay 20 billion pesos but from my consultation with Mayor Majul, at pareho ang aming computation, hindi bababa ng 47 billion ang kakailanganin so we have to make sure that facilities will be built at importante sa lahat ang buhay ng tao mabalik. We have to remember that Marawi was one of the poorest cities bago pa mangyari ito so hindi pwedeng i-rehabilitate at ibalik sa dati. Kasi kung ibabalik sa dati, poorest pa rin sya so dapat i-level up ang investment at rehabilitation dito. We are looking at economic facilities which is the market and the school.

Q: Where do you intend to get the allocation for the rehabilitation of Marawi?

SEN WIN: Different sources ang naiisip natin. Of course, ang calamity fund na naka-allocate para sa ating bansa. We can tap that. May mga rehabilitation fund din na pwedeng kunan. So first of all, i-analyze natin kung ano ba ang mga priorities at maihabol at malagay sa budget.

Q: Idi-duscuss po ba ito sa bicam?

SEN WIN: I think idi-discuss to in plenary kasi plenary session na ngayon sa Senate.

Q: The House?

Sa House, tapos na sa kanila, nagpasa sila ng [General Appropriations Bill] nila. But we have to make sure that there is enough funds for the rehabilitation dahil very preliminary pa lang ang usapan pagdating sa rehabilitation.

Q: How much are looking for the initial funding of that Sir?

SEN WIN: I think the minimum is 20 billion initially for the first tranche, but we're looking between 20-40 billion... But based on my observation ngayon and also from the feedback of Mayor Majul, and the LGU, dapat around 40 billion vicinity ang tinitingnan natin para hindi lang infrastructure ang ma-rehabilitate pati livelihood at pati ang pamumuhay ng tao ay mabigyan natin ng pansin.

Q: Is there an intent Sir to put funding for the rehabilitation?

SEN WIN: Yes, there is an intent to put funding for the rehabilitation. We will raise as much as we can, up to 40 billion ang target para ma-jumpstart kaagad hopefully by January.

Q: Ano ang sentimyento ng ibang mga Senador? Although you wanted it, how about the others?

SEN WIN: I think dito, we will see a multi-party agreement. Kahit na galing kami sa iba't ibang partido we all agree na dapat tulungan ang local government of Marawi, dapat suportahan ang ating mga sundalo, at dapat maglagay na ng pondo para sa rehabilitation because makikita natin sa pictures na almost nasira ang mga bahay sa Central Marawi.

Q: Sir we're talking about rehabilitation para sa mga nasirang bahay, initially Sir na-discuss na ba yan ng mga Senators?

SEN WIN: We are looking at a housing grant para sa mga may ari ng bahay. We are also looking at a livelihood grant also. That's why importante ang survey na ginawa ng DSWD to really know kung ano ba ang mga livelihood ng IDPs at to make sure na ang ibibigay nating tulong sa kanila mapupunta sa livelihood. So again, huminto kasi ang ekonomiya ng Marawi. It's at a standstill right now. So, what we have to do right now is to jumpstart it. To jumpstart it, we are looking at a figure of around 40 billion.

Q: Sir this is the second time around the CSWDO Valenzuela is here, ano po ang assistance the local government is giving?

SEN WIN: Nag-allocate tayo ng pondo through the city council of Valenzuela. Initially, we gave relief goods. Second, we gave sanitary kits then the third, we also gave financial assistance so ito ang mga tulong na nanggaling sa local government of Valenzuela and also the private sector of Valenzuela. Nakakataba ng puso dahil 'yung private sector natin, Valenzuela and the entire nation talagang quietly pumupunta sila dito at tumutulong.

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