Dela Rosa's special panel working closely with gov't agencies to expedite Marawi rehab

SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has assured residents that the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, which he leads, is closely coordinating with government agencies to expedite the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city that was attacked, destroyed, and occupied for months by ISIS-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups in 2017.

Dela Rosa gave the assurance on Saturday, October 16, which marked the fourth anniversary of the Liberation of Marawi City from terrorist influence.

"I need not go into the details but as [the committee's] oversight supervision of the reconstruction of Marawi, 'yung function na 'yan ay ginagampanan natin through constant monitoring and consultation with the stakeholders of Marawi City, most importantly 'yung Task Force Bangon Marawi," he said in a speech during the simple commemoration ceremony held in the city.

He added, "I really love Marawi City, alam ninyo 'yan. This is my home for almost four years when I was a scholar at the Mindanao State University, kaya hindi ko po makakalimutan ang Marawi. Malaki ang utang ko dito sa Marawi City."

On October 16, 2017, government forces liberated Marawi City from the hands of the terrorist groups.

Dela Rosa also announced that senators are working to speed up the passage of a bill that will compensate the Marawi siege victims.

He was referring to Senate Bill No. 2420, otherwise known as "Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2021," a substitute to Senate Bill No. 1395 which he authored together with other senators. The bill is with the Committee on Finance, headed by Senator Sonny Angara, and has already been presented to the Senate plenary for deliberation.

He said that in the past weeks, senators were pursuing the immediate passage of the compensation measure that seeks to compensate the residents of the city "as the final step of the government to fully rehabilitate the place."

"Kasi, sabi nga natin kahit na magtayo man tayo ng mga mosque diyan, magtayo pa tayo man ng mga government infrastructures diyan, maganda na 'yung kalsada, pero kung 'yung mga residente mismo ng Marawi ay hindi pa makakabalik sa kanilang pamamahay dahil wala pa silang bahay na matutuluyan dahil sirang-sira pa 'yung bahay nila, ay hindi pa talaga totally rehabilitated ang Marawi," the Mindanaoan Senator said.

In an interview during the event, the former top cop also said, "Ang problema talaga 'yung pagbalik nila doon sa original na mga bahay nila sa MAA o most affected area. Kaya nga nagkakaroon tayo ng Marawi Victims Compensation Bill...Tulong 'yon sa kanila para ma-repair, maayos 'yung kanilang pamamahay na nasira sa panahon ng giyera."