THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing a P330 million budget for its market access project to support the internally displaced people (IDP) affected by the Marawi occupation.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters on Thursday at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel that the budget will be part of the overall fund the government will tap for the rehabilitation of the city.
“Most of it will be released this year, depending on the phase of the implementation. Some of it next year, but if it’s possible to release everything next year, the better. Since it’s not that big, we can make an impact immediately. We should be in the process now of acquiring [things] like the sewing machines even if [the budget] is still not yet final so we can implement immediately.”
Mr. Lopez also said that the initial proposal for the overall budget for the Marawi rehabilitation is about P50 billion.
“Our estimate [for our own project] is about P330 million, so that will be our program and part of this, I think around P43 million or P45 million (from the P330 million) can be released already even if there’s no budget because what we will do is we will realign our budget in favor for the Marawi rehab.” He added.
According to the DTI, the cost would be around P331 million, excluding the infrastructure costs to rehabilitate the markets. If infrastructure is included, the cost would jump up to P591 million, to benefit around 17,650 IDPs.
“Part of the P330 million will come from the P40 million that we will get from the realignment so that it can be released immediately up to December so that we can already start operations. Some of these will be market access, the other will be used as a fund to pay for spaces in markets elsewhere… wherever we can sell their products.”
There are currently five Bangon Marawi stores in Metro Manila, benefiting around 250 IDPs who supply the products sold in the stores.
Mr. Lopez also said that the DTI will be rehabilitating five public markets in Marawi for P100 million each to benefit 2,000 sellers. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
