The spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, October 17, questioned why the government’s rehabilitation response in war-torn Marawi was taking a slow time four years after the siege that displaced more than 127,000 families happened.
“Hindi na maiksing panahon ‘yung apat na taon. 2017 pa ‘yun. Tapos ngayon, hindi pa rin natutugunan ng buo itong problemang ito (Four years is not a short time. That’s in 2017. Until today, they haven’t responded to this problem),” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said during Robredo’s weekly radio show over dzXL.
“Alalahanin nyo, nangyari ito halos isang taon pa lang kaksimula ng termino ng administrasyon. Ngayon, patapos na termino. (Remember that this happened when the administration is almost on its first year. Now its term is about to end). Less than one year eleksyon na (it’s already elections),” he added.
The vice president was a no-show because she went to Bukidnon for the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) program for undernourished children.
Her spokesman said that such a slow response may have something to do about leadership.
“Kailangan mas mabilis ang ating makuhang pamumuno para iyong ganitong mga klaseng problema natutugunan agad (We need a leadership that responds quickly so these kinds of problems will be addressed immediately),” he stressed.
The spokesman echoed Robredo’s position that consultations with those affected by the Marawi siege are needed.
“Kung magkakaroon tayo ng anumang proyekto na para sa kanilang kapakanan, kung tayo’y magkakaroon ng rebuilding, konsultahin ‘yung mga tao mismong maapektuhan nito, ‘yung mga titira dun, ‘yung mga nawalan ng bahay dati (If we are going to have any project for them, if we going to rebuild, consult the people who will be affected, who will live there, those who lost their homes),” he stressed.
Robredo herself spearheaded the Angat Buhay Village in Marawi City. The OVP has turned over more than 70 housing units to displaced families in Marawi, as well as classroom buildings.
READ: VP’s ‘Angat Buhay’ program turns over housing units for displaced Marawi families
Angat Buhay is the OVP’s flagship poverty alleviation program. Its village in Marawi is comprised of transitory houses funded by Robredo’s private partners.
Gutierrez lamented that all Marawi residents want is to go back home and start anew.
On Saturday, Oct. 16, President Duterte personally visited the war-torn city and promised to expedite its rehabilitation, which the government said is now almost 75 percent complete.
READ: Duterte tells Marawi folk: Gov't doing its best to finish rehabilitation
The government is targeting to finish all rehabilitation projects by December this year.
However, some Maranaos are not happy with the rehabilitation efforts of the government because it is slow and ineffective. The 127,000 families displaced by the siege continue to suffer and the shelter where they live reportedly lacks basic services like electricity and water.
There are concerns as well with the lack of consultations with stakeholders before implementing the programs.