The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on Friday, Sept. 14 expressed doubts whether government could give P150 billion for the damages suffered in the months-long siege of Marawi city in 2017.

During a public hearing by the Senate Finance committee chaired by Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara jointly with the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, the NEDA recognized the need to compensate those who suffered during the siege because it would contribute to the government’s peace building efforts.

The P150 billion will be spread equally in three years.

But due to the current country’s fiscal position and expenditures to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic, NEDA said there is a need to determine whether the funding the proposed ‘’Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2020’’ is possible.

Yesterday, the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) reported that government budget deficit has risen to P958.2 billion.

These were the realities that the Senate and the House of Representatives would face when they meet in a bicameral conference meeting after the Senate has approved its own version of the bill.

Senate Bill 1395 seeks to provide monetary compensation for the loss or destruction of residential, cultural, commercial structures and other properties in the main affected area (MAA) and the Greater Marawi Area during the siege in 2017.

The bill was authored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel ‘’Migz’’ Zubiri and Senators Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go and Imee R. Marcos.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also filed Senate Bill 2394 which seeks to provide compensation for the ‘’loss of lives and for the destruction of residential and commercial properties as a result of the 2017 armed conflict between the AFP and terrorist groups in Marawi city, Lanao del Sur.’’

The House of Representatives has approved its own version of the bill.

In this week’s committee hearing, dela Rosa said Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, head of the Task Force Bangon Marawi, reported that 15 percent of rehabilitation work in Marawi remains to be done.

Without the Marawi Compensation bill, the Marawi rehabilitation work would not be complete, del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the passage of the bill is indispensable for the reconstruction of Marawi and for it to move forward.

Its passage would trail blaze for compensation during armed conflicts, he added.

Lawyer Macabangkit Lanto, a former ambassador, said his conjugal properties were destroyed during the siege.

After the House approved its version of the bill, Lanto expressed doubts whether government has the money to fund the bill.

‘’Do we have the money? Subject to availability (of funds)? We might raise false hopes to the people,’’ he asked.

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