The government has earmarked P1 billion in next year’s budget to compensate displaced persons and victims who lost private properties during the Marawi siege in 2017, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said in a statement yesterday.
The DBM explained the first budget for Marawi rehabilitation was included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA). However, from 2018 to 2022, funds were allocated only for rehabilitation efforts, including infrastructure projects.
“The Marcos administration thinks that apart from rehabilitation of infrastructure, priority should also be given to the people of Marawi. This is the first time that the budget was allotted solely for victim compensation,” Amenah Pangandaman, DBM secretary, said.
“The compensation will greatly rev up the rehabilitation process and recovery of the war-torn city, especially our people,” she added.
The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund has been included in the 2023 national budget lodged under the P31-billion Calamity Fund for next year, the DBM said.
The P1 billion appropriated fund shall be used for the compensation to any lawful owner of residential, cultural, commercial structures and other properties in Marawi’s main affected areas or other affected areas destroyed or damaged, either totally or partially, on the occasion of the Marawi Siege; or owners of private properties demolished pursuant to the implementation of the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (MRRP), in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11696 and guidelines to be promulgated by the Marawi Compensation Board.
The reparation fund is pursuant to the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law or RA 11696 signed into law in April 2022.
The law states that the amount necessary for its initial implementation shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for the MRRP. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in the annual GAA.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, the DBM has also proposed to double the budget allocation for the National Rice Program in line with the government’s bid to ensure food security in the country.
As specified in the National Expenditure Program, the Marcos administration has significantly increased the allocation for rice production through the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture from P15.8 billion in 2022 to P30.5 billion in 2023.
“In our budget, we have provided a big amount for the National Rice Program. And this is for the expansion of fertilizer support for our farmers. This includes support for the mechanization of the industry. At the same time, while we provide social safety nets to our farmers, we will also increase funding on research and development and also on post-harvest facilities,” Pangandaman said.
Pangandaman added that budget allocation for vital agriculture programs, including the National Rice Program, follows the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of the President to achieve the 8-point socioeconomic agenda.
President Marcos, in his budget message, said ensuring sufficient rice supply will help maintain the price of rice at affordable levels. The budget increase is due in large part to expanding fertilizer support to make fertilizers more accessible to rice farmers and minimize their production losses.
The agriculture sector is one of the budget toppers in the 2023 proposed national budget, with P184.1 billion, or a substantial increase of 39.2 percent from its 2022 allocation.
