MANILA
The Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) on Tuesday approached the Senate to request additional plantilla positions, aiming to enhance their capacity for processing claims related to the 2017 Marawi siege. The board seeks to add 51 positions to their existing workforce to meet an annual target of 3,000 processed claims.
According to Philippines News Agency, the current setup includes 122 plantilla and 82 contract of service positions, which limits their processing capability to 2,160 claims annually. However, with the proposed increase in manpower, the MCB aims to complete compensation for 12,000 victims by 2028.
The MCB, a quasi-judicial entity established under Republic Act 11696, known as the Marawi Siege Victim’s Compensation Act of 2022, has a five-year mandate to settle all claims. Failure to meet the deadline would result in transferring responsibilities to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. As of March 2024, the board received PHP1 billion to compensate the victims.
During the deliberation, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III supported the MCB’s request for more Accountant IV positions, justifying it against their proposed PHP36 billion budget for the following year. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Senator Robinhood Padilla also expressed their backing, emphasizing the necessity of efficient fund disbursement and proper compensation distribution.
From November 2023 to August 2024, the MCB has resolved 685 claims, with expectations to handle 844 by year-end. Next year, they target to process claims for 2,160 affected households.