MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--In the attainment of the mandate to provide technical assistance to the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB), some line agencies have continuously joined forces to refine the updated post-conflict needs assessment (PCNA) report detailing the evaluation of the aftermath of the historic firefight that transpired in this city in 2017.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) supervised the event, with the involvement of several key organizations. These included the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Secretariat, Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG)-BARMM, Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), the local government unit of Marawi, and the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).

As they march toward the conclusion of this activity, the OCD has partnered with the TFBM and called on the concerned line agencies to spearhead a weeklong workshop from October 2 to 6 this year to smoothen and finalize the entire report.

Presidential Assistant for Marawi Rehabilitation (PAMR) Assistant Secretary (Asec) Felix Castro Jr. stressed that this was a crucial undertaking, taking into account that the outcome would serve as the basis of the MCB in the compensation of residents who were forcibly evacuated from their habitats due to the infamous tragedy. 

This was affirmed by OCD-10 Regional Director Antonio Sugarol, who stated that the required data outlined in the document are indeed seen as essential elements in the works of the MCB, especially since this would also cover all the narratives of concerned sectors such as the social, education, health and cultural, including the mosques and masjids. 

With the weeklong workshop, he hoped they would come up with the final report, which he deemed would become part of the solution to the previous conflict. 

“I wish we could deliver and finalize the data because this is badly needed. We need accurate data in the compensation,” said Sugarol. 

Castro has earlier stated that they struggled to get the actual picture of the properties affected due to the fire incident that occurred after. As such, they had to gather and consolidate additional data to have an accurate assessment while the kathanor of the TFBM and social cartography of the DENR would also be utilized.

To cope with this, Engr. Aris Llona of the OCD - Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service (RRMS) shared that they collaborated with the city government here to request supporting information and the MCB for solid observation and suggestions on what else to incorporate in the existing draft sectoral report.

“Naka-rely sila (government agencies) sa supporting documents. Nakikipag-coordinate rin sila. Hindi naman kami makakagawa ng reports na walang supporting documents,” said Llona. 

(They (government agencies) relied on the supporting documents. They also coordinated. We cannot make reports without supporting documents.)

Apart from organizing the recent weeklong workshop, OCD Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service Post Disaster Evaluation and Management Division (RRMS-PDEMD) Acting Chief Manuel Nivera Jr. shared that they also planned to establish a report development team that would take charge of polishing, proofreading, and lay-outing the concurrence of the whole document. 

He detailed that as of press time, they have remaining P1.4 million funds for PCNA-related activities. However, P500,000 has been earmarked for the social cartography activity, which aims to determine and validate structures damaged and destroyed during the 2017 Marawi siege. 

The OCD noted that they are committed to wrapping this up by the end of November this year. Although it would not be 100% completed, with some messages of key officials lacking, sectoral reports should already be printed and stitched. 

Nonetheless, Llona marked their work as 85% done, particularly highlighting significant changes, like the additional damage assessment of 40 mosques done by the NHA.

Emphasizing the purpose of the activity, Castro then heartened the participating entities to not go beyond the set deadline so that the compensating board could already use their output. 

“Kailangan (matapos ito). Wala na itong extension (It is a must (to finish this). There must not be an extension). We really have to finish this. The participants have to work overtime,” he said. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)