P730-M grant
US allocation for Marawi relief, rehab welcomed
MANILA - Malacañang welcomed Wednesday the move of United States (US), a long-time ally of the Philippines, to allocate P730 million for ongoing relief operations and eventual rehabilitation of strife-torn Marawi City.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the US's assistance would be beneficial for the long-term rehabilitation of Marawi, following the "extensive" damage brought about by Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute rebels in the beleaguered city.
"We welcome the assistance of the United States to finance emergency relief and recovery efforts for the areas affected by the Marawi rebellion," Abella said in a statement.
"The devastation wrought by the Mautes, inspired by the perverse Daesh doctrine, is extensive," he added.
On May 23, Maute extremists wreaked havoc in Marawi City in an attempt to establish an Islamic territory for IS' fighters in Southeast Asia.
President Rodrigo Duterte enforced military rule in the entire Mindanao the same day Islamist terrorists laid siege to Marawi City, with a goal to prevent hostile acts to spread outside the war-torn city.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced that P153 million of P730 million grant will be used for humanitarian assistance while the remaining P577 million will be allotted for the early recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi. SunStar Philippines