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MCB: Marawi Siege victims to receive claims by 2028


The Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) is eyeing to finish the distribution of the claims for the 2017 Marawi Siege victims by 2028, an official said Monday.

In a public briefing, MCB Chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said an estimated 14,000 victims have filed for claims as of May 6, of which, 118 have received their respective compensations worth at least P148 million.

“32 ang structural property claims at 86 ang death claims. For a total of almost P148 million,” Latiph said.

(32 victims filed for structural property claims and 83 for death claims, for a total of around P148 million.)

Victims who lost their homes during the Marawi Siege may claim a compensation of P18,000 per square meter for totally damaged structures.

At least P350,000, meanwhile, will be granted to the families of individuals who died during the siege.

For 2024, Latiph said the compensation board is targeting to award claims to approximately 1,000 to 2,000 victims. The MCB is planning to request for a P7 billion budget — higher than its current P2 billion — for the claims next year.

“Itong board nag-expedite ng aming process, ginawa namin na mas efficient at mas effective ang aming procedures para mas marami ang makatanggap this year at makabalik sa Marawi,” she said.

(The board has expedited the process to allow more victims to file claims and for them to return to Marawi.)

“In fact, marami na ngayon ang nag-apply ng building permit para makagawa ng bahay dahil nakuha na nila ng claims nila mula samin na as high as P27 million for a hospital. Mayroon din P10 million at P5 million na halaga ng struktura. Masaya ang claimants natin…dahil itong pong pamamahagi ay nagsi-signal na ang Marawi ay babangon na po,” she added.

(In fact, a lot of people filed for building permits to rebuild their homes. Others received as high as P27 million to build hospitals while others were given P10 million and P5 million for infrastructure. The claimants are happy because it is a signal that Marawi is recovering.)

The MCB reminded the public the filing for compensation ends on July 3. Victims may apply online or through on-site.

In July 2023, the MCB opened the applications of claims including structural property, death, and personal property claims, among others. Just nearly a month after the opening, around 12,000 people already expressed interest in filing for claims, according to the MCB.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said in August 2023 that a total of P1 billion has been set aside for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Program in the proposed 2024 national budget.

The siege, which started in May 2017, was perpetrated by the Maute Group and lasted for several months. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city freed from the group's occupation in October of the same year.—RF, GMA Integrated News