Robredo urges Palace to fast-track Marawi rehab

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday urged the Duterte administration to speed up the rehabilitation of the war-torn Marawi City, noting millions of pesos in donations remain untouched two years after the siege. 

Robredo issued the statement after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Office of Civil Defense’s “poor utilization” of donations for the victims of Marawi siege.

She said the agency only spent P10,000 of the almost P37-million aid received.

“Many would like to help, but the government should be there to lead,” Robredo said, adding the rehabilitation must be inclusive and that the administration must listen to affected residents.

Robredo said various rehabilitation programs have been implemented by the provincial and city governments. However, the reconstruction of the main battleground or ground zero has not yet started.

“Until actions are taken at ground zero, there will always be the impression that nothing is happening in the city,” she said.

Aside from the Marawi funds, the COA also noted that the OCD has released only P40.98 million of the P135.39 million donations that the agency received for the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated some parts of the Visayas in 2013.

“Maybe they should disclose the problem to the public. What is causing the delay in spending the funds,” Robredo said.

In April, President Duterte said he would let wealthy businessmen in Marawi to shoulder the cost of the restoration of Marawi.

The Department of Finance earlier said an estimated P72.2 billion is needed for the complete reconstruction and rehabilitation of the city.