SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III has issued a special order exempting the assistance to displaced Marawi residents from the five-percent limit set by the Senate.
He said the war against terrorism was not won with just bullets and bombs.
“It is won by the unity of the people and, through this measure, I hope to show our displaced brothers and sisters that they are not forgotten”, Pimentel said.
He said the fighting in Marawi between the military and the IS-aligned Maute terrorists had displaced thousands of residents as government forces closed in on the enemy
He said the need for food of the Marawi residents in the evacuation centers was projected to increas, as the government must provide three meals a day.
He earlier said the Duterte administration should start planning the rehabilitation of Marawi as the government forces were getting closer to resolving the conflict.
Pimentel issued his statement after Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said government forces were now in control of 96 of Marawi’s villages and working to neutralize the remaining members of the Maute group still hiding in isolated sections of the city.
He said the government was prepared to invest as much as P20 billion to rebuild Marawi, but the private sector’s assistance would be needed to provide livelihood and economic opportunities to Marawi’s more than 200,000 population.
“The financial resources the government is committing to Marawi City will help repair the infrastructure damage and help the residents to get back on their feet,” Pimentel said.
“But after we help the residents and the city heal, we must provide them with jobs and economic opportunities because while recovery is our initial objective, prosperity should be the ultimate goal. In this regard, the private sector can play a significant role.”
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella had earlier announced that the Executive Order for the P10-billion Bangon Marawi program was now being prepared for the President’s signature.
Malacañang has also endorsed a P10-billion-supplemental budget to finance the rebuilding efforts in Marawi City.
Pimentel said that business groups in Mindanao could take the lead in exploring investment opportunities in Marawi City after the government secures the area and restores normalcy in the city.
“I believe that if the government and the business community successfully rebuild Marawi City and show that we care for our distressed countrymen in Mindanao, this will help prevent the seeds of extremism from taking root,” Pimentel said.
