Threat to Marawi rehabilitation

Dave Achondo

NOW, Marawi city is almost at peace and the government has “won” the battle against the Maute Group. That is according to our President, of course. But there was no doubt that the government would win it eventually. Today, the city of Marawi faces another ordeal — the rehabilitation phase.

Compared to former presidents, I could not remember any one who gave an order to decimate, destroy, abolish a terror group at the expense of an entire city. Clearly, he has no other political agenda in mind.

History shows us that when it comes to rehabilitation, either caused by natural calamity or man-made, the Philippine government isn’t very efficient. This country has corrupt officials even under this administration that tries to convince everyone that it can rid the government of corruption with an iron fist.

I would like to point out that the people of Marawi should not set their expectations too high the same way Sendong and Yolanda survivors did.

The funny thing is, the help that some evacuees of Marawi think would come for free is actually in the form of loans as if it was their fault that the government bombed their houses.

Take, for instance, Sendong. Until now, many survivors are still left with no place to call their own. The problem dragged on from the Emano to the Moreno administrations. But the good thing is, the Moreno administration seems to be doing something about it. There is a very big difference in how it has been handling the problem which Kagay-anons know it only inherited.

According to the Official Gazette of the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs, as of Jan. 3, 2012, received a total of US$19,272,349.17 in donations and pledges for the victims of tropical storm Sendong. I wonder where that money went? Hmmmm…

Another, which is the most problematic of all, is Yolanda. I think it factored in former Interior secretary Mar Roxas’s loss in the 2016 presidential elections. It was recorded as the biggest storm that hit neighboring cities of Tacloban. It was the most powerful storm in the world on record for that matter. And it could also have been the biggest pay day for corrupt politicians. The funds are missing, and we’re not shocked about it. Records from the government’s Foreign Aid Transparency Hub show the Philippines received at least P14.997 billion in cash, and the international community pledged at least P11.07 billion for Yolanda victims.

If we talk about the budgets, Sendong survivors had it better compared to Yolanda survivors. But compared to Sendong, Yolanda’s death toll was massive and the damage was unimaginable. Obviously, the funds for rehabilitation varied.

Yolanda had the largest aid from other countries at P18 billion or roughly $414 billion, according to Faith. Where did the funds go? Nowhere.

Now with the foreign funds to rebuild strife-torn Marawi which is estimated at $2 billion, the question that everyone has in mind is: Are we going to see a repeat of what happened to the Yolanda and Sendong funds in Marawi? Only time will tell.

This is the moment that President Duterte has to prove himself in regard to corruption. “Zero tolerance” man daw. The money would greatly benefit Marawi and its people if handled properly. But we fear thieves in politics would try to get their hands on the money again.

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What’s happening in North Cotabato may not be like Marawi. The airstrikes by the military against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freeddom Fighters are reported away from the urban center.

I am worried though that the next collateral damage of the airstrikes is Mindanao’s natural resources.

But, oh well, some people argue that a tree is nothing compared to the life of a soldier or not even a hectare of trees is worth my dog’s life.