The Office of the Chief Minister's Marawi Rehabilitation Program (OCM-MRP) has provided a significant financial boost to families still recovering from the 2017 conflict. On Friday, December 26, 2025, the program distributed P3.8 million in labor cost subsidies to assist with ongoing home construction.
Direct Aid for Displaced Families
The assistance was delivered to 64 internally displaced persons (IDPs) under the program's Construction Materials Assistance initiative. Parliament Member Said Shiek, who serves as the MRP project manager, confirmed that each qualified beneficiary received P60,000. This subsidy is specifically designed to cover the expense of hiring labor, a critical component in turning building materials into a completed home.
Focus on the Most Affected Areas
Shiek emphasized that the aid targets IDPs from the Most Affected Areas (MAA) of the 2017 Marawi siege. Many families have received construction materials but still struggle with the costs of skilled workers and builders needed to assemble their houses. This direct cash infusion aims to bridge that final gap, accelerating the physical and communal recovery of Marawi.
"We urge the beneficiaries to maximize this assistance and work collectively toward recovery," Shiek stated during the distribution. He framed the payout as part of the government's continuing commitment to the city's full rehabilitation, years after the major battle ended.
Ensuring Accountability and Future Support
To ensure the funds are used as intended, the OCM-MRP is conducting regular site visits to monitor the progress of house construction. Furthermore, Shiek announced that processing and validation are ongoing for remaining batches of beneficiaries, indicating that more aid distributions are planned for other qualified families.
This latest distribution highlights the multi-faceted approach to Marawi's rebuilding, addressing not just the provision of materials but also the practical costs of construction labor, bringing displaced residents closer to returning to permanent homes.
