More manpower needed to finish Marawi Siege compensation distribution -MCB

The Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) on Tuesday requested the hiring of additional manpower to complete the distribution of claims for the victims of the 2017 Marawi Siege by 2028.

At a Senate inquiry on their proposed 2025 budget, MCB Chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said the compensation board had insufficient human resources, and it needed to fill 51 more plantilla positions to hit their target of resolving 3,000 claims per year.

A total of 14,495 cases were received by the MCB following the opening of applications for claimants in July 2023. The board has so far resolved around 635 cases this year.
 
“Naisip po namin na kung gusto namin ma-maintain ang aming performance dapat madagdagan kami ng 51 na plantilla positions,” Latiph told the Senate Finance sub-committee.

(We thought that if we wanted to maintain our performance, we needed to add 51 plantilla positions.)

“Ang aming current ay 122… Ang target namin every year 2,160 dahil ‘yun ang kapasidad namin ngayon. Kung mapapabilis at madadagdagan ang aming manpower baka matapos namin ang 3,000 annually na target namin. By 2028, tapos na namin ang 11,000,” she added.

(Our current capacity is 122... Our annual target is 2,160 because that's our current capacity. If we can speed up and increase our manpower, we might be able to reach our annual target of 3,000. By 2028, we'll be able to reach our target of 11,000.)

Latiph said the MCB had 122 personnel but 46 of their current lawyers and structural engineers were contracted to them by the Office of the President (OP). They are set to return to their original positions by the end of 2024.

“Sa 2,160 na current capacity namin, nasa 8,969 lang matatapos by June 10, 2028… Bale 9,000 ang kayang tapusin na claims pero may matitira na 3,000 na maiiwanan sa DSHUD. Nasa batas na after 5 years, ang DSHUD na ang magpapatuloy ng trabaho,” she added.

(With our current capacity of 2,160, we can finish 8,969 by June 10, 2028. That means we can complete around 9,000 claims, but around 3,000 will be left to the DSHUD. According to the law, after 5 years, DSHUD will take over the work.)

Instead of hiring more personnel, some senators advised the MCB to request manpower from other government offices anew.

Latiph welcomed the recommendations but expressed worry that this was not a reliable solution since the request would be under the discretion and budget of the involved agencies.

“In-explain sa amin nang maigi na pag binigyan ng plantilla lahat ay co-terminus… Ang kagandahan ng plantilla sila ay under oath at ating binabayaran ay malalaking amount… Ibig sabihin, may kaukulang obligation na igihan ang trabaho or kung hindi sila ay magkakaron ng accountabilty sa batas,” she said.

(It was explained to us that the plantilla positions will be co-terminus. The advantage of the plantilla is that they are under oath, and we pay them well. This means they have a corresponding obligation to do their job well, or they will be held accountable by the law.)

“Kung hindi kukunin ang ganoong sistema at puro contract of service lang… nakikita ko po na mas maigi na under oath sa Saligang Batas ang hahawak ng claims para hindi magkaroon ng problem sa future na contract of service lang kayo… kung magkaroon ng problema sa pagkwenta ng istruktura or eligibility ng bawat claimant, wala po kaming habol sa kanila,” she added.

(I think those handling claims should be under oath according to the Constitution so we can avoid problems in the future with contracts of service. If there's an issue with the structure or eligibility of each claimant, we won't have any recourse against them if they are all contract of service.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros asked the MCB to take note of the suggestions. However, she supported the additional human resources for the compensation board.

“Pagtutulungan ng buong minority, with the majority senator, ang pakikipag-usap sa DBM on your additional plantilla,” said Hontiveros.

(The entire minority bloc, together with the majority senator, will collaborate with the DBM on your additional plantilla.)

In May, the MCB said it was eyeing to finish the disbursement of claims before the end of their term by 2028.

In July 2023, the MCB opened the applications of claims including structural property, death, and personal property claims, among others. 

Nearly a month after the opening, around 12,000 people expressed interest in filing claims, according to the MCB.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said in August 2023 that a total of P1 billion had been set aside for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Program in the proposed 2024 national budget.

The siege, which started in May 2017, was perpetrated by the Maute Group and lasted for several months. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city freed from the group's occupation in October of the same year. — DVM, GMA Integrated News