OFFICE OF SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA Committee on Finance joint with Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation MARAWI COMPENSATION BILLS

OPENING STATEMENT

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for acknowledging the fact na masyado na akong uneasy dahil ako ang direktang talagang fina-follow up ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi about that kasi 'pag sinabi mong Marawi Rehabilitation, "Ah, si Bato. Si Bato ang chairman niyan," without knowing na secondary committee lang pala ako, ikaw pala ang primary committee kaya I've been following up with you. Alam naman natin kung gaano ka ka-busy, 'yung committee natin sa Finance kung gaano ka-busy. So thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Magandang umaga sa ating lahat!

I would like to thank our Committee Chairman, Sen. Angara for giving priority to the Marawi Compensation Bills. We know how busy the Finance Committee in funding our COVID-19 response and not to mention the ongoing committee deliberation for the 2022 budget. For the information of everyone, earlier today, our hardworking chair also conducted public hearing on measures that will grant continuing allowances and benefits to our Health Workers. And now here he is, ensuring that the government will be able to provide monetary reparation to the victims of Marawi siege.

Last Tuesday, our Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation also conducted a hearing on the status of the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the government in Marawi City. I am pleased to inform everyone that the Task Force Bangon Marawi, led by Sec. Eduardo Del Rosario, reported that only 15% of the rehabilitation work is left unfinished. Although, maraming nag-dedebate dito, but officially, 'yan ang pronouncement ng ating butihing secretary.

As pointed by Sec. Del Rosario during the Special Committee hearing, despite tremendous efforts from the government and civil society organizations, we acknowledge the fact that the internally displaced residents are still suffering with the effects of the siege. Mas pinalala pa ng pandemya ang kahirapang nararanasan ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi.

I completely agree with Sec. Del Rosario when he declared that without the approval of the Marawi Compensation Bill, Marawi rehabilitation will not be 100% complete. Ang nakataya po sa panukalang ito ay ang maayos na pagbabalik at pagsisimula ng panibagong buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang magandang lungsod ng Marawi.

Kaya naman, kahit mayroon ng building permits na inaprubahan ang pamahalaang lokal ng Marawi, hindi sila makapagsimula ng pagpapatayo ng kanilang mga bahay. Ang problema - wala silang panggastos para sa materyales na bubuo muli ng kanilang bagong tahanan.

Kasama ng mga gumuhong bahay sa gitna ng putukan ay ang kanilang mga pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan. Kung kaya't mas nararapat na mapabilisan ang pagpasa ng panukalang batas na ito, upang sila ay matulungan na magsimula muli.

In fact, Mr. Chairman, during our last Special Committee Hearing, it was reported by mainly of our resource persons that no'ng pumasa na on third reading doon sa house of representatives itong bill na ito ay marami daw, halos lahat na ng mga IDPs ng Marawi were rejoicing because 'yung pinakamatagal daw nilang hinihintay nand'yan na without realizing na 'yung approval ng HOR was only one-third of the process. Another one-third will be performed by the senate and the last one-third will be performed by Malacañang, kaya ako napilitan na talagang magpa-follow up na.

Anyway, Mr. Chairman, with your good support, Senator Angara, the Senate will be able to help our brothers and sisters in Marawi to return, rebuild and restart a new life in the reconstructed city.

Mr. Chairman, it is the best time that we pass this measure. And for this, I manifest my support for its speedy enactment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.