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OPENING STATEMENT: It is our desire that the hearing will give clarity as to the detailed status of the rehabilitation and utilization of funds

(Opening statement of Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa at the public hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology gym on 21 February 2020. Dela Rosa chairs the Committee)

Last 30 September 2019, the Specail Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation conducted its organizational meeting and briefing for the purpose of carrying out its mandate under Adopted Resolution No. 8 and to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the status of Marawi City rehabilitation and utilization of its funds in accordance with Resolution Nos. 29 by Sen. Recto and 182 by Sen. Marcos.

In connection with this, I would like to manifest that Senator Win Gatchalian filed Resolution No. 99 inquiring into the implementation of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Plan of Marawi City. However, the same is currently pending with the Committee on Rules.

During the hearing, different agencies and instrumentalities of the government reported the status of their respective mandates.

  • As per the report of the Subcommittee on Reconstruction of Task Force Bangon Marawi, they have completed the repair of Mapandi Bridge and is currently working on the reconstruction of Banggolo Bridge and Pumping Bridge, as well as an 18-kilometer Ring Road and 42-kilometer transcentral roads.
  • DICT is enhancing internet accessibility in the area and is focusing on the digitalization of Lanao del Sur processes and services
  • The Subcommittee on Housing reported that 2,693 temporary shelters have already been completed, 2,000 of which have been occupied.
  • The Subcommittee on Security, Peace and Order is rendering assistance in the safe return of IDPs in the MAA as well as the reintegration program for the surrenderees.
  • The Subcommittee on Land Resource Management already concluded the social cartography last 11 July 2019 and has profiled 12,405 IDP families.
  • DTI has accomplished 55.41% with regard to the starter kits and has served 41% of the 49,000 IDPs profiled
  • Of the P10 billion, P5,436 billion SAROs have already been issued as of 27 September 2019 for the 2018 funding and out of the P3.5 billion 2019 funding, P62,970 million has been allocated as per the Office of the Civil Defense.
  • According to the NHA, as of 22 September 2019, 76.36% of the housing projects are in the construction phase
  • NICP is continuously providing educational assistance to the IPs.
  • DSWD (has) already provided 15,615 families the outright cash transfer aid. These families accessed the transitory family support package costing P827,595 million, and
  • DOLE has integrated a livelihood program in 2018 wherein 249 IDPs received shelter kits amounting P1.6 million, among others

Again, all these efforts are those which have been reported as of our last hearing.

Nonetheless, in order to fully understand and grasp the current situation of the rehabilitation and the gravity of what is yet to be rehabilitated, the committee decided to conduct an on-site ocular inspection this morning.

This afternoon, our hearing will focus on the observations on the aforesaid ocular specifically on the current issues of residents/internally displaced persons, the timeframe of the rehabilitation taking into consideration what is yet to be rehabilitated and the expected rehabilitation outputs for 2020.

Having first-hand knowledge and overview on the current situation, it is our desire that the hearing will give clarity as to the detailed status of the rehabilitation and utilization of funds, with the end in view of ensuring that Marawi residents, whose lives were primarily and adversely affected by the siege will benefit therefrom.

Thank you and good afternoon once again.

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