Plaints of Marawi residents

“Residents complained also that the estimated expenses in securing these permits run to about P30,000, which they cannot afford.

It looks like grievance against Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) keeps piling up almost by the day. My past commentaries about the reconstruction of the city have hit a raw nerve among desolate, weary and impatient resident-victims. They are “up in arms” by the way the project is progressing. Quite a number have expressed dismay. The issue has unintentionally stoked the resurgence of Maranao nationalism.

Nobody can blame them. It’s been more than two years after the war and more than a year after the city was liberated on 17 October 2017 when reconstruction was promised. But the clearing alone of the area of debris is moving at a snail’s pace. The excuse about unexploded ordnance now sounds like a broken record, trite and, as we say in Pilipino, “Kumita na yan.” There is no structure tangibly built, except the blast walls, which residents are not buying, and a granite marker on the spot where Ispilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed by government troops.

Last week, a resolution was emailed to this column by respected Maranao leader lawyer Salic Dumarpa, former regional prosecutor and National Labor Relations Commission commissioner, prepared by their group calling themselves (by the letterhead) the TEAM-Work for Marawi Victims (Ground Zero). It is a well-researched, eloquently written petition complete with data, facts and figures about the Marawi war. It is thought-provoking and fecund with substantive ideas, which merit serious consideration. Its preambular whereases spell out fundamental issues, which go to the very heart of the reconstruction project.

A look-see at the text of the resolution shows vividly that it is an unadulterated expression of the true sentiment of the residents. It centers on two basic issues — first, the problem of returning residents complying with the litany of requirements, and second, the wisdom of the blast walls, which this column discussed in a past article.

On the first issue, the resolution outlines the hurdles by quoting verbatim a top official of TFBM. In sum, they take issue on the to-do list, which a returning resident must submit, like “land titles and deeds, plans, zoning receipt, barangay clearance and BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) clearance,” a house tag from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, application for renovation or building permit, electricity application and water application. After the repair or construction of one’s house, an occupancy permit is issued and the return of residents will be scheduled. Residents complained also that the estimated expenses in securing these permits run to about P30,000, which they cannot afford. The resolution pleads that only a barangay clearance should be required “in the interest of substantial justice and humanitarian consideration.”

On the second issue: They complained that, “Without notice to the public, a ‘barrier or wall’ was constructed along the center of the main thoroughfares.” It asserted that the “reasoning of TFBM is misleading and far from the truth,” claiming that the area covered by the walls is “unusually wide and long, running from 10 to 15 square kilometers.” They further revealed that “not a single ordnance exploded during the clearing and demolition of structures in Sectors 8 and 9 and… there are no returning residents in Sectors 1 and 2” that need protection from detonation blasts.

They asked, “Why did TFBM waste much needed funds, when other countries, like Europe and the Middle East would only put up a net to protect the people from being hit by ordnance shrapnel?”

As a side issue, the resolution raised the demolition of structures and houses without the consent of the owners who need to be compensated. It decried the unjust deprivation of property guaranteed by the Constitution with the concomitant payment of just compensation.

The gravamen of these complaints is the inordinate delay of the project and the return of residents to their homes.

This column acknowledges the sincerity of TFBM chair Eduardo del Rosario and his subalterns to carry out their mandate. But perhaps there is a need to do more, develop rapport with and begin an information drive for stakeholders. The avalanche of concerns expressed by residents is symptomatic of collective worry over the progress of the works.

Chair Del Rosario, et. al. should take criticism in stride and not be onion-skinned. Verbalizing their concern is the residents’ outlet for their despair, a therapeutic balm. Their minds have grown brittle with impatience and might snap like a dry twig into violence. Allow them that little privilege of complaining. And address their concerns seriously.