Marawi board to request more budget for compensation fund

The Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) will request an additional budget to compensate displaced persons and victims who lost their properties during the Marawi siege in 2017.

As the applications started on July 4, the MCB reached 1,000 in the first fifteen days of the application.

"Magre-request po ang MCB (ng additional fund) dahil as of 7 days ng in-take lahat ng nag-file ng application, 1,000 na ang nag-file ng claim," said MBC Chairperson Maisara Dandamun-Latiph at a public briefing on Wednesday.

(The MCB will request additional funds because, after just 7 days, we already have 1,000 claimants.)

Dandamun-Latiph stressed that victims who lost their homes during the Marawi siege may claim  a compensation of P18,000 per square meter for totally damaged structures.

An additional 27% of the claim for the damaged structure will also be granted.

Meanwhile, the MCB will grant at least P350,000 to the families of those who died during the siege. 

Around 17,800 households affected by the siege are also expected to receive financial aid.

In September 2022, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the Marcos administration had earmarked P1 billion for the Marawi compensation fund which would go to the following:

• Any lawful owner of residential, cultural, commercial structures, and other properties in Marawi's main affected areas or other affected areas destroyed or damaged, either totally or partially, on the occasion of the Marawi siege

• Owners of private properties demolished under the implementation of the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program, following R.A. No. 11696 and guidelines to be promulgated by the Marawi Compensation Board

The filing period will run until July 3, 2024. —Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News