A total of P17,456,836,830 worth of claims have been filed by the victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, according to the chairperson of the Marawi Compensation Board.

During the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 on Monday, MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said the applications for compensation were filed by 4,762 claimants from 4 July to 31 August.

The number represents only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals affected by the conflict.

"These are people or individuals who claim that they have structure na nasira (that were destroyed) or they have a death claim. That 4,762 are claims filed. These are based on verified claims application forms (VCAF) that were filed by the claimants. VCAF means that they have filed a claim under oath," she added.

Dandamun-Latiph said the filing of VCAF is just part of the step 1 process.

Step 2 includes the second layer of evaluation by the lawyers and engineers.
"Ibig sabihin, dadaan na naman siya sa second layer of verification which is yung (It means the claim still has to undergo a second layer of verification which is the) legal and technical evaluation," she said.

So far, only 220 have been assessed while 120 claims worth P395 million have already been processed.

Citing data from his office, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, said the MCB needs to process at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims.

The government had initially earmarked only P1 billion for the compensation, which is being lodged under the MCB budget.

Created under Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law, MCB was tasked to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants.
Meanwhile, compensation rates are provided based on the implementing rules and regulations of MCB.

A damaged structure will be compensated P12,000 per square meter (sqm) if it is concrete; P9,000 if mixed concrete and wood; and PP6,000 if made of light materials.

Individuals with destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per square meter if structures were made of concrete; P13,500 per sqm if mixed concrete and wood; and P9,000 if made of light materials or mainly wood.

A compensation of P350,000 will be given to kin or heirs of victims who died from the siege.

Latiph said the Board is eyeing to complete the compensation process within five years.

She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month.

Dela Rosa said the MCB should make sure that the payments for siege victims will not put into corruption."

As early as now, nakikita na namin dito kung gaano ka-importante yung role ninyo talaga diyan sa Marawi Compensation Board dahil nandiyan kayo sa gitna eh (we can see how important your role there in the Marawi Compensation Board because you are in the middle). You have to make sure that you are operating within the budget and fiscal capability ng ating gobyerno (of our government)," Dela Rosa said.

"At the same time, you have to ensure duly and justly compensated lahat ng victims di ba? Ambigat ng papel niyo (all of the victims, right? Your role is very important). So, good luck. We are here to support you," he added.

The data of the Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there are more than 17,000 households residing within the 24 most affected barangays in Marawi City, excluding businesses and other establishments.

The five-month armed conflict in Marawi started on 23 May 2017 when members of the local Daesh-inspired Maute rebel group attacked the city.

The government forces declared the war-torn city liberated on 17 October of the same year. But, the conflict left over 1,100 people dead and the center of Marawi City in shambles.