Marawi folks should take lead in rehab efforts – Makabayan Bloc lawmaker
Published Apr 25, 2019 06:00 pm
By Ellson Quismorio
President Rodrigo Duterte should make sure that Marawi residents themselves benefit from the efforts to rebuild their city, Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate said Thursday.
Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna Party list Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to the Makabayan Bloc lawmaker, Duterte should listen to the appeal of the people of Marawi under the Ranaw Multi-Sectoral Movement for him to "intervene in the rehabilitation of Marawi City and let the Maranao people lead the rebuilding of their city and preserve their cultural identity."
"We strongly urge President Duterte, who traces his roots in Marawi, to heed their call and not be swayed by business interests, both local and foreign, who are now salivating over the area's multi-billion rehab fund," said Zarate, who is himself based in Mindanao.
It can be recalled that an estimated 1,000 ISIS-inspired Maute Group terrorists occupied Marawi City in Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017.
It took the military and police five months to drive out the enemy, with the extensive shelling and bombing leaving the Islamic City in shambles.
The national government has set aside ₱67.99 billion for Marawi's comprehensive rehabilitation. As of February, the Department of Finance said that over ₱40 billion in rehabilitation funds have been raised through concessional loans and international grants.
Zarate expressed worries that the prevailing military rule in Mindanao--which resulted from the terrorist attack--might be used as a smokescreen for dubious activities, such as foregoing public bidding for the rehabilitation activities.
"It can be used to short-circuit and even do away with the rules on the bidding and procurement process, which can potentially open windows for graft and corruption," he noted.
"Concerned citizens from all over the country and even abroad should band together and heighten our call to immediately lift martial rule in Mindanao, scrutinize and guard the rehabilitation of Marawi to ensure that the majority of Maranaos would be the ones to benefit and not military or business interests," Zarate said.
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares agreed that there's no place for corruption in the Marawi rebuilding efforts.
He also further explained why the government should show its hand in the endeavor.
"It is the duty of the government to help in the rehabilitation of Marawi and it should not be left to the private sector. If not, then the feeling that they were abandoned and left to fend for themselves by the national government would only be reinforced and may even lead to extremism," said Colmenares.
"They should just ensure that there would be no corruption and preferential treatment of Marawi City's rehabilitation," he added.
Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna Party list Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to the Makabayan Bloc lawmaker, Duterte should listen to the appeal of the people of Marawi under the Ranaw Multi-Sectoral Movement for him to "intervene in the rehabilitation of Marawi City and let the Maranao people lead the rebuilding of their city and preserve their cultural identity."
"We strongly urge President Duterte, who traces his roots in Marawi, to heed their call and not be swayed by business interests, both local and foreign, who are now salivating over the area's multi-billion rehab fund," said Zarate, who is himself based in Mindanao.
It can be recalled that an estimated 1,000 ISIS-inspired Maute Group terrorists occupied Marawi City in Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017.
It took the military and police five months to drive out the enemy, with the extensive shelling and bombing leaving the Islamic City in shambles.
The national government has set aside ₱67.99 billion for Marawi's comprehensive rehabilitation. As of February, the Department of Finance said that over ₱40 billion in rehabilitation funds have been raised through concessional loans and international grants.
Zarate expressed worries that the prevailing military rule in Mindanao--which resulted from the terrorist attack--might be used as a smokescreen for dubious activities, such as foregoing public bidding for the rehabilitation activities.
"It can be used to short-circuit and even do away with the rules on the bidding and procurement process, which can potentially open windows for graft and corruption," he noted.
"Concerned citizens from all over the country and even abroad should band together and heighten our call to immediately lift martial rule in Mindanao, scrutinize and guard the rehabilitation of Marawi to ensure that the majority of Maranaos would be the ones to benefit and not military or business interests," Zarate said.
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares agreed that there's no place for corruption in the Marawi rebuilding efforts.
He also further explained why the government should show its hand in the endeavor.
"It is the duty of the government to help in the rehabilitation of Marawi and it should not be left to the private sector. If not, then the feeling that they were abandoned and left to fend for themselves by the national government would only be reinforced and may even lead to extremism," said Colmenares.
"They should just ensure that there would be no corruption and preferential treatment of Marawi City's rehabilitation," he added.