Bong Go praises Marawi residents for their fortitude, determination to rebuild besieged city
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday praised the people of Marawi for their fortitude and determination to rebuild their city after the five-month siege in 2017 that nearly destroyed their lives and disrupted their livelihood.
That is why, Go said, residents of Marawi would greatly benefit from the newly-signed Republic Act No. 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, as this would provide them the necessary additional support to rebuild their lives.
With signing of the measure into law, Go said it is now crucial to revitalize the disrupted socio-economic activities in the city and other affected municipalities.
“Napaka-importante po ngayon ng pakikipagbayanihan. Ipagpatuloy lang po natin ang ating nasimulan upang tuluy-tuloy na po ang pagbangon muli ng Marawi (It is very important to show unity. Let’s continue what we have started to help Marawi City rise again),” Go said in a statement.
The Marawi siege was a military conflict between the Philippine government and militants linked with the Islamic State, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups, that began on May 23, 2017. The conflict lasted for five months.
Co-authored by Go, RA 11696 seeks to provide internally-displaced persons (IDPs) compensation or reparation for houses destroyed and properties that could no longer be recovered due to the attack of Islamic State-linked terrorists in the city.
The law mandates the creation of the Marawi Compensation Board which shall receive, evaluate, process, investigate, approve with finality, and disburse any and all compensation to qualified claimants under the law.
The law is expected to help more than 300,000 victims who have been displaced due to the conflict. Go also noted that it is just one of the many initiatives of the government to help rehabilitate Marawi City, its residents and affected neighbors from the devastating loss they suffered.
“Kaya naman patuloy po kaming magseserbisyo sa mga kapatid natin diyan sa Mindanao upang tuluyan na nating makamit ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa ating mga kababayan (That is why we will continue to serve our brothers and sisters in Mindanao so we can fully achieve peace and prosperity for our people),” said Go, who is also a member of the Senate Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation.