Media spotlight shortfall in Marawi fund in 2025 budget 

CHEERS TO some media for calling attention to the continued failure of the Marcos administration to provide the necessary funds for the rehabilitation of Marawi in its proposed 2025 budget of PHP6.354 trillion. 

Only three news outlets, GMA News Online, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Philippine Daily Inquirer called attention to the allotment of only PHP1 billion for the rebuilding of Marawi next year. The reports recalled that the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) had estimated the need for at least PHP5 billion annually over its five-year mandate to fully compensate for the devastation caused by the war in 2017, a five month-long siege battle between state forces and militants linked to the Islamic State. In the 2024 national budget, the compensation program was given only PHP1 billion to cover victims’ claims.

The reports also cited the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law of 2022, which gave the MCB five years to gather and verify their claims for death, loss of residence and personal property, and structural damage; and to issue payments to the 17,000 families across 32 barangays affected by the conflict. After five years, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development takes over any unfulfilled obligations.

The proposed 2025 budget provides for the release of an additional PHP2 billion in unprogrammed funds to for compensation costs if government exceeds target revenue collections.  

Damage, underfunding recalled

Most news accounts merely noted milestones in the budget approval process. But GMA, PCIJ, and Inquirer called the necessary public attention   to the continuing negligence suffered by the Maranaos, highlighting the shortfall in the proposed budget for 2025, seven years after the end of the war in Marawi. The reports reviewed the devastation and damage to Marawi and its residents, the slow progress of reconstruction, and the underfunding for the last two years. 

GMA noted that the Marcos administration attempted to soften the blow of fund shortfall by allocating PHP2 billion under unprogrammed appropriations, emphasizing that such appropriations are far from guaranteed. The process requires government to achieve a surplus of revenue, after which the agencies need to go through a lengthy application process to secure additional funds. 

PCIJ’s report did not focus solely on Marawi, but included it in its list as one of many budget items to watch. It noted that security analysts have warned against further delays and the failure to compensate the victims, warning that “discontent” among the communities makes them “vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.”

Inquirer pointed out that although President Marcos spoke about the importance of Marawi in his State of the Nation Address in July 2024; his budget for 2025 did not add more funds for its reparation. Additionally, it detailed the slow approval process of approval; with the MCB approving 

only 487 claims out of over 14 thousand received and releasing only PHP299 million in compensation to over 200 claimants. 

Rebuilding Marawi

The injustice suffered by the people of Marawi should be a national concern. Newsrooms must work to stir journalists to keep this in the news agenda. 

The budget is a key mechanism to provide for their just recompense. 

Nearly seven years later, victims of the Marawi Siege are still struggling to rebuild their lives in the wake of the conflict which decimated homes, schools, and businesses. Media should be one with the victims and include in the news the government’s unfulfilled pledge to the people of Marawi – for as long as necessary.