Davao City donates P5-M for Marawi City rehabilitation

MANILA, Philippines— The Davao City government on Tuesday said it would donate P5 million to help rebuild Marawi City.

In a statement, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the P5 million donation would be sourced from the local government’s “extra” disaster funds.

Duterte-Carpio urged other local government units to also share their extra funds to help the people of war-torn Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur province.

“It is our duty as Dabawenyos to help our countrymen in Marawi. I encourage other LGUs to share from their own disaster funds,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“If we all give a little and put it all together, it can make a big difference,” she added.

Last October 17, President Rodrigo Duterte declared besieged Marawi City liberated from terrorists. He said the liberation marks the start of the city's rehabilitation.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Department of Budget and Management has allocated "about P5 billion" for the support of evacuees, the reconstruction of infrastructure and repair of bridges in Marawi this year.

Lorenzana said the government is looking into allotting P10 billion for the rehabilitation of the city in 2018.

Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra said the rehabilitation of the city may take three years or longer based on the local government’s timeline. He cited the huge destruction in the city during the five-month-long conflict with the local Maute terror group.

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