Nearly four years after Maute militants laid siege on Marawi City, government’s pledge to compensate victims to help them  recover from the five-month terror remained unrealized and appeared last in the order of legislative priorities of Congress.

House Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman aired these misgivings as he issued a strong appeal to the House of Representatives and the Senate to swiftly act on the passage of the Marawi Compensation Bill.

Hataman, former governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, lamented that about almost four years after government freed the city from the Maute group that attacked the city while President Duterte was on an official state visit to Russia in May, 2017.

Hataman urged his colleagues in the legislative body to pass the measure so that it can be signed into law and funded by the General Appropriations Act for 2022.

He also appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the bill as an urgent administration measure.

“Huling SONA na ni Pangulong Duterte ngayong 2021 (President Duterte will deliver his last SONA this 2021),” Hataman said.

“Sana maipasa na ito para naman makasama sa legacy niya ang pagsasaayos ng Marawi, (We hope Marawi’s reconstruction will be part of his legacy),” he added.

According to Hataman it is important for Congress to pass the pending measure in order that it can be included in the 2022 national budget deliberation.

 The measure already passed committee level in the Lower House and a counterpart bill is still pending in the Senate.

Hataman aired strong fears that delay in the rehabilitation of Marawi City and the compensation of victims could fuel extremist sentiments.

He also called attention to government funds that may expire due to lack of implementation, like what happened to the P406 million 2018 Marawi fund budget that reverted back to the National Treasury in 2019.

He also warned that residents who were forced to live in crowded communities may be exposed to the dangers of COVID 19.