US to provide additional P296.2M for Marawi rehab

The United States will provide an additional P296.2 million in financial assistance to the Philippines in support for the humanitarian and recovery work in war-torn Marawi.

"The additional assistance will promote the role and inclusion of women in the recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi as well as support ongoing humanitarian assistance work in and around the city," the US Embassy said in an emailed statement on Monday.

The assistance will be delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and will bring the total US government assistance in Marawi to over P1.7 billion or $31.95 million.

The US Embassy said the P136.1 million of the amount will respond to the needs of displaced persons, particularly women and girls, and promote their leadership in fostering peacebuilding.

Meanwhile, the remaining balance of P160.1 will be used for training and recovery grants to more than 7,800 displaced families and provide water and sanitation to over 10,000 households.

The government earlier said it has enough funds to reconstruct Marawi City, saying there is no need for an additional allocation as it has a lot of fiscal space.

Still, countries such as the US and China have expressed their intent to assist the Philippines in the rehabilitation efforts. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News