The Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch (MRCW) on Friday appealed to lawmakers and the Office of the President to urgently increase funding and strengthen oversight of the Marawi compensation process, warning that thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) may never receive justice if delays persist.

In a statement, MRCW expressed grave concern over the slow progress in compensating victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, now more than eight years past. 

As of August 2025, only 2,178 of the 14,495 total claims have been processed by the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB), leaving over 12,000 claims unresolved, amounting to a required budget of P20 billion.

“This funding is more important than the tens of billions used for restoring infrastructure that is rarely utilized because IDPs have not been able to rebuild their homes inside the city in the first place,” the MRCW said.

The group called for decisive action through three urgent measures, which they noted as a significant increase in the programmed budget for Marawi compensation; the establishment of a real-time claims update and tracking system for internally displaced persons (IDPs); and the prioritization of rebuilding essential social services, particularly in the health and education sectors.

“At least 352 claims per month – that is the accomplishment rate needed to finish 12,000 compensation claims in the remaining 34 months until June 2028, when the Marawi Compensation Board becomes functus officio,”  said Mcmillan Lucman, MRCW member and former provincial director of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in Lanao del Sur. 

Yet, the board has only resolved around 2,000 claims so far, she added.

“We hope to hear that the President will prioritize a speedy Marawi Compensation process. Marawi rehabilitation and rebuilding should focus on giving justice to war victims through the promised compensation,” Lucman further stressed. 

In 2025, only P1 billion was allocated for compensation, far below the estimated P20 billion needed to address all remaining claims.

Dr. Rolanisah Dipatuan-Dimaporo, MRCW member and Medical Specialist III at the Ministry of Health in BARMM, highlighted the need to prioritize vulnerable sectors.

“Senior citizens must be a priority as well. Maraming hindi na inabutan ang compensation. They did not  live long enough to receive their rightful compensation.” 

She also urged the MCB to fully utilize its legally mandated composition, which includes a physician and an educator, to expedite the valuation of damaged hospitals and schools by actively collaborating with agencies such as the Department of Health, PhilHealth, the Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education.

Meanwhile, Saripada “Tong” Pacasum Jr., former PDRRMO head of Lanao del Sur and MRCW member, criticized the lack of transparency in the process: 

“Hundreds of thousands from taxpayers’ money are paid monthly to each of the nine members of the  Marawi Compensation Board,” he said, noting the “need to come up with a system of communication that will give the  claimants clarity and real-time updates on specific next steps and timelines for their compensation.”

“Completing Marawi's compensation work is key to restoring the government's credibility in what they call  ‘Bagong Pilipinas’,” he added.

Dr. Fedelinda Tawagon, President of Dansalan College Foundation Inc., also voiced frustration. 

“Ganito na lang ba ang Bagong Pilipinas? Mabagal pa rin pagdating sa Marawi compensation? It feels like our humanity and dignity is betrayed with the government’s unfulfilled promise,” she said. 

She lamented that many schools in the most affected area remain in ruins. 

“Eight years is long enough! No leader can rebuild a nation with empty words. Marawi IDPs long for tangible results and a rebuilding that we can feel in the daily life of our youth and our families,” Tawagon said. 

Mohammad Abas, Executive Director of TASBIKKA Inc., echoed these sentiments, saying, “Marawi’s Ground Zero is still in ruins. 10 billion worth of big-ticket infrastructure projects in Marawi are rarely used by IDPs because they cannot rebuild their houses  without their rightful compensation.” 

The MRCW reiterated that the compensation law was meant to be a healing mechanism, but without adequate funding and urgency, it risks becoming another unfulfilled promise.