CHINA READY TO HELP REBUILD MARAWI
China is ready to provide more assistance for the post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City.
“China stands ready to continue providing needed support and assistance in light of the needs of the government of the Philippines,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press conference in Beijing.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the liberation of Marawi from terrorists after confirming the death of militant leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute, nearly five months since fighting broke out between government troops and Islamist fighters.
“The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the people in Marawi and the Mindanao region can enjoy the peaceful and tranquil life again at an early date,” Lu said.
The Philippine government is prepared to spend P5 billion this year for the rehabilitation of the war-torn city, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.
He said the government expects to hit the ground running in the next few weeks.
Diokno said the P5 billion will be sourced from the augmented National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) fund.
For next year, a P10-billion Bangon Marawi Fund has been includ- ed in the proposed 2018 national budget.
An additional P15 billion is being proposed by Senator Ralph Recto to augment the Bangon Marawi Fund. The amount is to be taken from the Unprogrammed Appropriations portion of the proposed P3.76-trillion national budget.
China has been extending assistance to the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte, whose foreign policy favors China and Russia over long- time ally United States.
Last June, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua handed to Philippine health and social welfare officials a P15-mil- lion check donation for Marawi City’s relief operations and rehabilitation.
Also last June, China donated P370 million worth of about 3,000 rifles and six million pieces of ammunition to help the military in fighting the terrorists.
“Combating terrorism is the shared responsibility of all nations,” Lu said.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar also announced that China has donated 47 sets of heavy equipment to be used for Marawi.
The equipment, which arrived in Iligan City last week, consisted of eight sets of excavators, eight sets of wheel loaders, five sets of compactors, five sets of track-type tractors, five sets of bulldozers, eight sets of dump trucks, eight sets of cement mixers, and one container van.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said “at least P50 billion” will be needed to rebuild the war-torn city.
The armed conflict in Marawi broke out on May 23 after a botched government raid on Hapilon’s hideout. Hapilon and his men, aided by the Maute group, laid siege on the city following the initial skirmishes.
Duterte declared martial law in the entire Mindanao on the same day in a bid to contain the conflict.