Google map of Marawi City.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Marawi City's civic leaders and organizations lauded Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte's signing of Republic Act 11696, or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act of 2022.
In a statement, International Alert Philippines (IAP), the secretariat of Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch (MRCW), said the Marawi Compensation Act establishes a precedent for future victims of war and destruction.
"Through this law, no victim shall be left uncompensated. We celebrate this milestone with the IDPs (internally displaced persons) and victims of the Marawi war for this hard-earned victory," IAP said.
RA 11696, signed by Duterte on April 13 and disclosed to the public Wednesday, provides for the creation of the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) headed by a chairperson and eight members.
The law also grants private property owners compensation based on the sum of the current market value of the land and the replacement cost of structures and improvements.
Saripada Pacasum Jr., a member of MRCW and convenor of the Lanao del Sur Early Response Network, said the law is seen to jumpstart Marawi's recovery.
"With the President’s signing of this law, he delivered justice and equal priority to the Maranaos who have lost and sacrificed so much in the past five years," Pacasum said.
Dr. Fedelinda Tawagon, the president of Dansalan College, hopes the law’s implementation will be "smooth, fair, and just."
"This law is a moral and legal victory for the Meranaw IDPs whose lives have been suspended in the long process of rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi City and its people," Tawagon said.
Under the law, the MCB is tasked with facilitating the tax-free payment of reparations to “qualified claimants” who lost residential and commercial properties in the Marawi siege.
Jalilah Sapiin, another MRCW member and currently works at the Bangsamoro government's Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education, said affected residents can now have a stronger resolve to move forward, and begin rebuilding our damaged properties on the path to recovery.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rolanisah Dipatuan-Dimaporo, who works at the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro region, said it was almost impossible to think that recovery measures like RA 11696 can be legislated and implemented.
“With deep gratitude, we thank our representatives and our senators for standing up for us. Finally, we thank President Duterte," she said.
Mcmillan Lucman, also an MRCW member who works at the Bangsamoro’s Ministry of Interior and Local Government, acknowledged personalities in Congress who helped pass the bill for it to become a law.
In particular, Lucman thanked Amin Party-list Rep. Amihilda J. Sangcopan, Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Basilan Rep. Mujiv S. Hataman; also representatives of both Lanao del Sur and del Norte provinces for the support.
Mohammad "Khalil" Abas, executive director of Tasbikka Inc., said he hopes the law will help “heal the wound” caused by the Marawi siege. (PNA)
