ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV:               Good morning, Malacañang Press Corps and guests. Welcome sa Bangon Marawi Press Briefing. Today we have PCOO Assistant Secretary, Atty. Marie Banaag.

ASEC. BANAAG:                            Rocky good morning, and members of the Malacañang Press Corps. Happy New Year sa inyo.

To give us updates on the Marawi rehabilitation, we have Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome them.

For most people, the New Year marks a blank page, a new start in their lives. For us in Task Force Bangon Marawi, we are only adding more pages to what has been a long list of accomplishments that we have achieved, together with our local and national government, our cooperative IDPs and every Filipino and foreign corporations who have contributed to our endeavors. We continue our message throughout last year, ‘kasama ninyo kami sa pagbangon ng Marawi.’

With that, we are pleased to report our progress. First the turnover of transitional shelters that would be… the video will be shown later on by the PIA through the HUDCC Chair. An initial of 500 transitional shelters in Barangay Sagonsongan have been turned over to IDP beneficiaries last December 27. Before going into details on this event, let us watch a short video but that would be introduced later by, of course the HUDCC.

During the ceremony, government agencies showed solidarity by putting up booths around the area. And for the Department of Trade and Industry, mamaya po idi-discuss po ni Secretary Mon Lopez ‘yan. And of course, the Lanao Del Sur Electric Cooperative also ensured power installation in this site; while the Local Water Utilities Administration or the LWUA and FilInvest took part in the installation of water supply. Another 300 transitional housing units in Matungao have been turned over also. These 300 were under the project of the PAGCOR, so that makes it the 800 transitional houses turned over.

Second, is the DAR Convergence Project Management Team – The Department of Agrarian Reform together with the UN World Food Program and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization led the creation of The Convergence Project Management Team. The Team would help farmer beneficiaries get back on their feet through their support services, particularly 5 barangays identified in the Malimono-Dulay Agrarian Reform Community. As of December 29, land preparation for the corn, rice and vegetable farming has been conducted at two convergence sites.

Third, the OPAPP Solidarity Gathering – On the topic of peace, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process conducted ‘Puso at Kapayapaan, Magbigayan at Magmahalan’ – a solidarity activity for the displaced residents of Marawi City on December 16 to 17. This is in partnership with Duyog, Marawi. The event aimed to spread love, hope and peace proving that Christmas spirit of giving applies to Christians and Muslims alike.

And fourth, is the dialogue with development partners – While our government continues to enjoin all the stakeholders of the nation – in order to make the cities recover faster and more efficient – together with the World Bank, we conducted a dialogue with development partners at their office in Bonifacio Global City – that was on December 19, 2017. Among the attendees were representatives from various agencies of the Task Force Marawi, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra and international development partners.

The meeting covered updates on TFBM or the Task Force Bangon Marawi milestones, and the proposed priority programs, projects and activities care of the NEDA; as well as the approved coordination mechanism for international donors to pool technical and financial support that would help address the priority needs of TFBM and the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Recovery Program.

Here are the initial results of the PCNA – Also discussed in the dialogue were results of the Post Conflict Needs Assessment or the PCNA. As of date, the total damage is over 11.61 billion pesos; while total loses is over 6.6 billion pesos. The initial estimate of total needs is 49.81 billion pesos. The final results are expected within the month, as committed by the Office of Civil Defense.

On the DSWD quick update – As of December 21, we have P157,026,541 worth of DSWD support and maintenance services have been already accessed by 13,627 families or more than 78% of those who have returned to their respective barangays under Clusters 1 to 3.

On the DOE update – The Department of Energy also continues its support to affected residents of Marawi as they have turned over 400 solar-powered lamps to TFBM and 131 solar-powered street lights to Lanao Del Sur Electric Cooperative on December 16.

On the first LGU forum… on the topic of consolidating recovery efforts – Despite the onslaught of Tropical Depression Vinta last month, the Marawi City government pushed through the first Local Government Unit Forum on December 22. All 96 barangay captains, city councilors and concerned TFBM members met at the TFBM field office in order to facilitate direct consultation regarding their issues, concerns and recommendations.

And lastly, led by Chair Eduardo Del Rosario himself of TFBM – TFBM conducted a consultative meeting with the Ulamas at the Marawi Municipal Hall on December 28. The meeting was an opportunity for the Ulamas to raise their concerns on the recovery of their war-torn city. Chair Del Rosario also discussed future plans for restoring the city and assured them that government agencies are now all hands on deck as rehabilitation progresses. I’m sure the Chair here would have a… more explanation on this one as soon as he gets the floor.

As we close… before I turnover the mic to HUDCC Chair Del Rosario, again, we thank you for the support of the Malacañang Press Corps the whole time during and when the Marawi war broke out up to now. Wala po kaming—nagpapasalamat po ang PCOO at ang office ng ating Presidente po sa inyong suporta po sa lahat ng pagko-communicate ng mga updates for Marawi City. Sir…

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Thank you, Asec. Marie. Good morning and Happy New Year to all.

For starter, we will be presenting a video that would show what happened last December 27 when the President should have been be there with us to witness the turnover of the 800 housing units. So we will show the video first, then we can have the Q and A. The video please… [VIDEO PRESENTATION]

So from what you can see, basically are the interventions being undertaken by the different departments of government. So these are the inter-agency convergence, and this will form part of the early recovery interventions by the national government as well as the local government. So we can have a Q and A based on what were presented?

ROCKY/PTV:                                     Can we have DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez first?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Okay, sige. Good morning again everyone.               So allow me to show some slides para may visual presentation rin tayo on what DTI has been doing.

As a background, we started to give out livelihoods, skills training and other forms of support in terms of financing, market access, even during the time of the conflict, noong hindi pa naso-solve ang problema sa Marawi. Dahil we realized that a lot of IDPs will have to continue to help them get back to normalcy, at may hanap-buhay at lalo na ngayon na mare-resettle sila, we are continuing to do so na mabigyan ng livelihood. So quick ano lang ‘to, slideshow… first slide please.

Okay, so summary lang. We can group them to access to livelihood programs which we have been giving. Iyong market access, once kasi may produkto na sila, we have to provide… saan nila puwedeng ibenta ‘to para talagang may mas mabilis na turn around doon sa kanilang pinagtrabahuhan and they can get quick revenues out of the hard work that they’ve done. And then skills training na tuluy-tuloy na binibigay, kasama ng DTI ang TESDA at access to finance… ‘andiyan ang small business corporation kasama ng mga ibang MFIs, Micro Finance Institutions na magbibigay ng—

Ang magandang balita dito naikukuwento rin natin, naka-develop kami ng program dahil—para talaga matulungang makabawi ang mga taga-Marawi… zero interest iyong loan from December—actually inumpisahan na po noong December 4 hanggang sa April. Ito’y talagang—para talagang hindi na sila mahirapan ‘no, subali’t loan pa rin iyon, pero may grace period at zero interest. O, summary lang muna ng… rundown lang noong ating mga ginawa na.

Sa livelihood, ito iyong mga initial programs na binigay natin in terms of—marami kasing… based on research, maraming nangangailangan ng hanap-buhay related to garments manufacturing. So mga sewing machines ang kailangan nila, at saka iyong mga tela, pinamili namin noong materyales nila para makagawa sila ng mga malong at mga iba pang mga kasuotan that they can produce – nila mismo. So mga sewing machines immediately about 34, at tapos noon nasundan pa ng another 50 sa pamamagitan noong mga donation ng sewing machines mula sa Philippine Business for Social Progress. Ang UNDP nag-donate din ng additional 35 sewing machines noong nasa evacuation centers pa sila.

And last week, tulad ng na-report ni Chairman Del Rosario, kasama po tayo sa mga nagbigay pa ng mga ibang livelihood equipment na tinurn-over last week sa…last week lang iyon ‘no? Last week sa Marawi, oo, parang ang tagal na (laughs). Oo, electrical equipment… kasi iyong mga iba, iyong mga skills nila, puwede silang electrician at inenegosyo kaagad nila iyon; carpentry, additional sewing machines…

At ito iyong mga bago nating binibigyan ng livelihood, mga hauling facilities, mga small trucks. Ang tawag nga KIA Bongo, sounds familiar ‘no. Drop-side truck, may walong beneficiaries na, pang-hauling services, negosyo kaagad. Mini rice mill, dalawang beneficiary at saka mayroong magko-combination, may rice mill at Bongo, more beneficiaries there.   

Mayroon tayong mga starter kits, additional 200 na nakuwento natin kanina on top of what we gave out in terms of garments and dressmaking, Sari-sari store kits – 56 beneficiaries, 40 sari-sari store kits for IDP vendors in Lanao Del Norte evacuation center.

Tinulungan din natin sila makabenta sa mga trade fair tulad noong Diyandi Festival sa Iligan City mula – September pa ito hanggang October mga—ito iyong bagong ibibigay natin o nabigay na iyong iba dito, food vending starter, parang mga kiosks ‘no. So may mga beneficiaries’ tayo diyan, makakagawa ng mga delicacies nila, ng mga carenderia at mga street food.

Ang employment opportunities katuwang natin ang Department of Labor and Employment, mayroon silang programa ‘Tulong Panghanap-Buhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers,’ TUPAD program over 2,000 beneficiaries, 2,054 sa iba-ibang bayan po sa Marawi.

Itong eco-zone ay isang program na wino-workout namin with General Del Rosario kung saan mag-a-identify tayo ng isang eco-zone na para makaimbita rin tayo noong mg kumpaniya, manufacturing facility na for employment. Kasi hindi naman lahat ay willing or nasa larangan ng pagnenegosyo or interesado sa pagnegosyo, kailangan din ng trabaho. So trabaho negosyo ang ibibigay natin dito, mga food processing, agri-processing, woodworking and all the other manufacturing activities na puwedeng i-locate doon pero kailangan mag-prepare tayo ng eco-zone, kahit gobyerno po ang mag-develop noong eco-zone. And to attract investors, puwede nating pag-usapan na libre iyong lease para lang mag-locate sila doon. Pag-uusapan po natin kung gaano katagal puwede nating ilibre iyong pag-upa at wala silang babayaran mag-locate lang sila doon.

And then partnership with private sector, for example we made arrangement now with one company, a steel making company who will be developing iyong steel making out of scrap…steel scrap ‘no. So iyong mga scrap na makuha din natin sa Marawi na mga metals, steel na puwedeng i-recycle at gawing raw material para sa pag-produce ng steel. Iyong kausap po natin iyong isang kaibigan din natin na nasa steel making ang Steel Asia, na they have over 7 plants around the country, mayroon din sila sa Davao at iyon ang gagawin nilang raw material iyang steel scrap.

 

Next chart, some quick slideshow lang on the—iyong mga ipinamigay na mga starter kits, sewing machines okay, sari-sari store kits. Sige bilisan lang natin diyan, iyan sari-sari store, more sari-sari store kits at tapos iyong—

On the market access habang nagkakagulo pa noon at hanggang ngayon tinutuloy ito. So tuloy-tuloy iyong price monitoring, nagpadala rin tayo ng mga rolling stores para magkaroon ng permanent rolling stores, may idea si Asec. Abdulgani Macatoman ng DTI kasama natin, magtayo na tayo ng mga commissaries ‘no. So iyong mga ibang lugar around the Marawi tulad ng Tamparan, Binidayan, Ganassi, Marantao ay nagtayo na ng mga commissaries para—gusto kasi ng ating Presidente regularly available iyong mga basic commodities, hindi magkaroon ng shortage para hindi tumaas ang mga presyo nila kaya nagtayo na ng mga commissaries doon.

Nakipag-usap din tayo sa mga manufacturers ng mga construction companies para sa mga construction materials, suppliers ng mga construction materials para masustina ang steady supply ng construction materials at hindi magkaroon ng shortage doon at may agreement kami na hindi sila magtataas doon. In fact noong kinausap sila, iyong presyo ng semento mas mura pa doon kaysa sa Manila ‘no.

So… and then more market access sa pamamagitan ng pagbayad ng—kami na nga ang nagbayad noong mga stalls para ma-display iyong mga produkto nila sa iba’t ibang lugar. Kasama na rin aside from areas around Marawi tulad—kasama na rin ang Metro Manila ‘no. So up to the Noel Bazaar ‘no sa World Trade Center, sinagot po natin iyong kanilang puwesto para makapagtinda na sila.

And the next—those are other visuals noong mga trade fair na sinalihan. And then in fact even in the ground floor of the DTI office nagbukas tayo ng Marawi—Bangon Marawi products stores, ni-launch po namin ni Secretary Lorenzana at hanggang ngayon nandoon pa iyon. So tuloy-tuloy ang pagsuplay namin doon. Para siyang show room para kung sinong gustong bumili on a regular basis para itinda sa…like the Rustans doon bumibili ng mga ititinda nila na mga Marawi product sa mga Rustan stores. Tuloy-tuloy po iyong ating showroom doon.

Trade exhibits, iyan we can proceed. Kahimunan Trade Fair—by the way on that one we are also talking to the nearby areas tulad noong sa Iligan, iyong Robinson na bagong mall doon. Kumukuha kami ng puwesto, DTI ang magbabayad nito para may puwesto rin ang mga taga Marawi doon sa mga produkto nila. Sa ground floor ang hiningi natin para high foot traffic.

At we are talking to the LGUs para iyong mga public markets around Marawi rin ma-refurbish, mapaganda at iyong puwesto rin doon kukuha tayo. Again kasi iyong pagnenegosyo naman ng mga Maranaos hindi lang limited inside Marawi. Puwede silang lumabas doon sa paligid. Naka-identify po tayo ng 39 na—of course iyong 39 municipality gusto po sana natin magkaroon ng palengke bawat municipality, iyon po ang isa sa prinoject natin.

At napag-usapan din namin ni General Del Rosario na doon sa malapit sa mga resettlement areas ay makapagtayo tayo ng mga shared service facilities kasi para hindi na lalayo iyong mga nakatira doon, mayroon ng inenegosyo, mayroon ng processing plant doon na itatayo whether kung ang pananim eventually doon with the kalamansi or ibang mga prutas na kailangan i-process, bibigyan po natin ng equipment, iyon manggagaling sa regular budget po ng DTI sa shared service facility.

Okay, ituloy lang po natin doon sa mga skills training… on garments, kasama ang TESDA. On dressmaking, noodles making, iyan ang mga beneficiaries po natin about 208, 175 sa food processing, 130 basic massage, cake making, mga Maranao delicacies. And you can see more pictures there and visuals. Woodworking, handloom weaving, mayroon na tayong—may mga activities targeted. Naka-target tayo ng 100 beneficiaries doon sa woodworking. At saka mga hand loom weaving.

Sa food security naman po, support to food security and agricultural livelihood na may vegetable production na naumpisahan, assistance to 1,211 IDPs. Nagpamahagi po kasama ang Department of Agriculture, packets of assorted vegetable seeds, 50 sets of garden tools etcetera.

And then ito iyong isang magandang development – access to financial scheme. Dahil marami doon nagnenegosyo, ang kailangan talaga makabangon ulit, makabawi so kailangan ng puhunan. Kaya we made arrangement, naka-develop ng scheme na may access sa Islamic micro-finance scheme, Sharia compliant at ang SB Corp natin, Small Business Corporation sa pakikipagtulungan noong Marawi LGUs and Chamber of Commerce ay nakagawa ng retail financing ‘no. So naumpisahan na iyong pautang niyan as low as 10,000 to as high as 100,000 mayroon ng mga—as of now iyong mga nandito kuwarenta pa pero as of today 60 na iyong napautang and that regard, zero interest ‘no. At iyang zero interest hanggang April iyan.

Tapos every Friday or Thursday iyong na-agree natin last week, may P3 – iyong pondo para sa pagbabago at pag-asenso, pondo program po ng ating Pangulo panlaban sa 5-6 ay tuloy-tuloy iyong orientation doon para matulungan silang ma-inform at makapag-apply doon. Okay.

And of course moving forward, also we are realigning some of our budget, we tried to include also in the Bangon Marawi fund other budget for our other program. So in other words, mas maraming rice meal, KIA Bongo, hollow blocks makers, mga kiosks na ating ilalaan para sa Bangon Marawi program. So iyon muna po. Salamat.

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB:        Good morning, sir. Number one, iyong question ko lang is, mayroon na tayong—kay Secretary Lopez. Secretary Lopez, mayroon po tayong animnapung napautang. Can we know how much po iyong ipinautang ng government?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Mga ano po iyon… mga nagra-range sa ngayon 10 to 15,000. So ang intension po doon kapag nakakabayad sila, they can borrow again even on a bigger amount para kasi may track record na.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 Sir papaano naman po iyong pondo para sa pag-asenso ng DTI?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     So tuloy po iyon, dito sa Bagong Taon ay na-approve naman iyong budget natin na additional 1 billion pero nationwide po iyon. So ang sistema po dito siguro mauuna nating ubusin muna itong zero interest. Pag naka-graduate na sila doon by… after April puwede na rin sila doon sa pondo sa pagbabago at pag-asenso. Pero may isa pa kaming program na ka-follow up actually nitong zero interest. Mas mababang interest kaysa sa pondo sa pagbabago. So from zero interest aakyat muna sila sa 1 percent per month, iyon iyong—doon sila ga-graduate after April. Then after… iyong programa na iyon na 1 percent per month, iyong pondo sa pagbabago kasi microfinance rate iyon eh, iyon na iyong mga nasa 2 to 2 ½ percent per month iyon. But still lower iyan than the 5/6 ano na 20 percent per month ano. So iyon ho iyong mga kasunod na follow through programs.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 If my memory serves me right. Last year sinabi ninyo po doon sa Sulu, iyong dumating iyong mga taga Sulu po dito, ang pangako po ninyo will be—sana ma-i-finance kayo bawat region ng 1 billion per region. Ito po para doon sa—pondo para sa pag-asenso ng DTI.

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Wala pa ho tayo doon.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 Wala pa.

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     One billion for the entire country muna tayo sa ngayon. But the President in his previous talks had mention now iyong full support niya sa MSME. So as we utilize these funds, I’m sure he will be willing to continue to add to the financing—micro-financing program. So hindi po natin inaapurang mabilis dahil sigurado tama ho iyong implementasyon natin.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 Thank you sir. Kay Secretary Del Rosario. Sir, early recovery pero wala pa tayo noong rehabilitation phase?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Well actually nagkukuwan iyon eh, while undertaking early recovery interventions, we are now setting the process for the eventual implementation of the real rehabilitation. When I talk about the real rehabilitation, I am referring to the ground zero or the most affected area. Our timetable is around April 15, the actual ground works will start in the most affected area. It’s about 250 hectares were basically all vertical infrastructures were totally destroyed. And we are now in the process of selecting the developer that will be subjected to Swiss challenge and once we’re done with that, then the actual implementation will start. And now based on our timetable, we are going to have it by April 15.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 So ang target po natin will only be the 30 percent kasi iyong—nilinis lang po ng military right now is the 30 percent of the 250 hectares, Secretary?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               That is regarding the area clearing of unexploded ordinances. I was told by the AFP that they will be able to complete the clearing by first week of April. And that’s the reason that we plan the—actually last Wednesday and yesterday that to ensure that immediately after the clearing operations being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP we can immediately start with the rehabilitation.

BENJIE/DZBB:                                 Thank you very much, sir.

DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:         Hi Sec., good morning. Sec., may mga natira pa po ba na mga displaced individuals doon sa mga evacuation center or nakabalik na lahat sila sa Marawi?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               From a high of 125 evacuation centers, it is now down to 67 or 68 evacuation centers and with about 3,500 families.

DEXTER/DZMM:                            At ito ay tinututukan din ng—

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               They are given priority in the temporary shelter, 70 percent will come from the evacuation centers and 30 percent will come from the home-based families who did not opt to stay in evacuation centers. So it’s a 70 and 30 – so that we can eventually decongest all the evacuation centers.

DEXTER/DZMM:                            On another issue. Doon sa April 15 na binabanggit ninyo doon pa lang magsisimula iyong pagpapatag doon sa mga area na—

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Debris clearing yes.

DEXTER/DZMM:                            Hindi ba puwede iyon, Secretary, na simulan doon sa mga na-clear na para habang umuusad iyong clearing operation eh naki-clear na iyong grounds at masimulan na kaagad sa April 15?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               I think that is the common question, actually by the barangay captains, the Ulamas and the local government units. You know, ang clearing operations pag sinabing, they sectorized the 150 hectares into 9 sectors, ang na-clear nila as of December basically four–five areas with four remaining.  Pero pagka nag-explode ang isang ammunition let say iyong 600 pounder in one area, the danger zone na tinatawag namin is about 650 meters radius. So we are talking about 1.3 kilometers area when one 600 pounder will explode. So even though the first four sectors were cleared if something will explode in the fifth, which is the center of the area, the whole area will be affected. So we consider it a danger zone and we could not allow anyone. Even owners of the buildings and houses are not allowed until now.

DEXTER/DZMM:                            Sir, short follow up. So, may kagamitan ba tayo na magsagawa ng mapping at matukoy kung nasaan iyong mga unexploded ordnance?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Actually iyon ang ginagamit natin na equipment at gumagamit din tayo ng K9, iyong mga aso. And I believed more than 1,000 exploded ammunitions were already retrieved.  But we are after the 17 rounds of 600 pounders, only three were recovered to date. So, we are still looking for the 13. And during our briefing last  December 21, pinakita  sa atin ng mga EOD  experts kung papano iyong iyong process nila.  There was  a 250 pounder pumasok sa ground, it penetrated slantly for about 5 meters and  direct vertical distance about 4 meters. It will take them 2 days just to get that one round of 250 pounder. So, it really takes time and in fact, we tap the PNP to assist   the Armed Forces of the Philippines, so that we can really fast track the   clearing of unexploded devices.

We know the sentiments of the residents. Alam ko na gusto nilang magpunta doon, ang request nga nila kung makapunta lang sila ng mga 1 week to two weeks after the clearing and I promised them that we will do that  provided they will sign a waiver  that if something will explode  in the process  of  retrieving  their personal belongings, it will not  be the responsibility of the government, of the AFP and the local government unit. I required them that to start preparing  that waiver through the  Barangay Captains  and the  city government.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Kay Asec. Marie. Ma’am, I just want to clarify iyong figures na sinabi mo kanina. Is it 49.8 billion pesos na kailangan pong budget for the rehabilitation of Marawi?

ASEC. BANAAG:                            Yes.  The initial estimate of total needs is  49.81 billion pesos, total needs.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Total needs. So what   that represent, Ma’am?

ASEC. BANAAG:                            That would represent the –everything, if you wanted to rehabilitate housing and everything. All the things that are needed for  Marawi to get back.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Kasama na po ang infrastructure doon?

ASEC. BANAAG:                            Yes.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Kay Chairman Del Rosario.

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               I would like to clarify further iyong sinabi ni Asec. Marie ano.  Iyong result kasi ng post conflict needs assessment, we are talking about the damages and the loses. Ano iyong damages sa infrastructure, pati sa agriculture, livelihood and everything. And then ano ang opportunity loss, iyon ang ang pinagsama doon, we call it DALA, damages and losses opportunity loss because of  the damages. So it was estimated to be about 17 or 19 billion.

ASEC. BANAAG:                            The damage is 11.6 billion.

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               11 and the opportunity loss is 6.6. So it’s about 18 billion. But the needs that would repair or rehabilitate, the damages and the opportunity loss is 49 billion. But this is just an initial estimate. NEDA is now in the process of coming up with the comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan and it will be out on the second week of March.   In this a compressed CRRP, we call it CRRP, when it comes out, it will now factor in everything that  would include  the master development plan being envisioned   by the  city of Marawi  and the province of Lanao Del Sur.  As Asec. Marie said, it’s just initial estimate.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 So, possible, sir na mas malaki  pa iyong  kailanganing budget?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               There is a possibility.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Last na lang po kay Secretary Mon Lopez. Sir I am just curious lang sir kung kasama iyong  mga  Marawi families doon sa bibigyan po natin ng 200 pesos na pang-mitigate  doon po sa impact ng TRAIN?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Ah, siguro DSWD tanungin ninyo doon, hindi ho kami ang nagma-manage kasi doon, ano. But, pangkalahatan kasi, basta recipient ng –ang pagkaintindi ko, lahat ng recipient ng conditional cash transfer doon idadagdag iyong 200 na impact ng TRAIN.

PIA/ABS-CBN:                                 Meron pa po ba tayong extra na pang-mitigate or efforts to mitigate the impact of TRAIN specifically for the victims of the Marawi conflict, sir?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Wala tayong –aside from what you have mentioned. But ang sinasabi nga natin iyong impact ng TRAIN. Actually ang impact doon is more of positive, because nga of the tax exemption of the dominant number of—dominant percentage ng mga wage earners, iyong mga sinasabi ngang nasa 21,000 and below per month na income. Imagine iyong kanilang 6,000 tax ay hindi na nila babayaran kasi exempted na sila. That’s an additional budget for them, additional disposable income or possible savings for them, for  their use. Kaya ang impact naman doon sa presyo  eh   pupunta na tayo sa TRAIN ng kaunti ay napaka-negligible, very minimal and just to cut to the chase, in terms of, just a concrete example, a price of a canned goods, sardinas na 14 pesos, singko lang, .05 pesos o singko sentimos  lang ang  impact ng computation pag-isasama mo iyong  computation ng fuel because of the very small percentage  nung fuel sa  production cost, sa  cost of goods sold ng mga  produkto.

Ang talaga namang meron lang direct hit in terms of prices would be iyong directly  bibigyan ng excise tax,  which is  softdrinks and fuel. So iyon talaga iyon. But all the other products na sa kanilang cost of goods sold or sa production cost nila at napaka-negligible. So  kung singko sentimos  lang ang pinaguusapan, hindi ho usually ginagalaw ang SRP at iyon ay na-proved naman natin kahapon nung nag-ikot tayo  na  kung may mga announcement ba ng mga SRPs. Kasi kapag ikaw ay—ang isang manufacturer may planong mag-increase ng presyo, 30 days before you have to issue a memo  to the  accounts,  to the retailers  at sa  ngayon  wala namang  nagi-isyu nung mga ganoong memo na magbabago sila ng SRP, ng suggested retail price.

Before Cedric, siguro idagdag ko lang iyong summary total after nung mga prinesent natin kanina  just to encapsulate it. So iyong mga binanggit natin na livelihood  program, market access, skills training  and access of finance, nagto-total iyong  iyong beneficiary sa ngayon mga 5,118. At  gusto rin nating banggitin na iyong programa po natin, iyong mga beneficiaries, hindi lang naka-focus doon sa  mga nasa Marawi, kung hindi even iyong mga katabing bayan na naapektuhan din nung conflict.  Tulad po nung Ramain, Bayabao, Masiu… na iyong mga pamilya doon ay talagang humihingi ng tulong dahil sial rin  ho ay talagang naapektuhan. So, we just want to mention    that na ibang bayan sa Lanao Sur kasama ho sa mga beneficiaries natin.

CEDRIC/GMA7:                               Kay Chair Del Rosario po. Sir, iyong sa unexploded ordnances, sir. To be clear ito po ay hindi lang just form the enemy side. Galing din sa government side itong ordnances pong ito.

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Yes, definitely, karamihan nga  diyan government side eh, dahil ito iyong pinapaputok natin coming from the F-50,  from the artillery and M-203 yun ang marami, iyong mga M-203.  Iyong ganyang kalaki na  upon impact  dapat eh sasabog. Hindi nagputukan iyong iba.  And even yung sa artillery na  105  and mortars.

CEDRIC/GMA7:                               Pag na-recover ito, sir. Ano na ang gagawin, hindi na ito puwedeng gamitin, tama po ba?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               Ang ginagawa ng Armed Forces pinapasabog onsite, controlled detonation ang tawag doon.

CEDRIC/GMA7:                               Sir, hingi lang po ako ng kaunting details pa sir, when you mentioned iyong  ongoing iyong selection nung developers para  doon sa 250 hectares, ito po ba, sir ay parang  lump sum iyong buong  project, isang developer for the whole?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               For the 250 hectares na most affected area. Iniiwasan kasi natin dito, just like iyong bagon, hindi ba? Iyong bagon, nag-order tayo ng bagon, tapos iyong riles nung isalpak, hindi compatible! So we do not like that to happen. Very simple na project, bagon and the riles ay hindi pa compatible, how much more kung itong area na gagawa ka ng massive land development, paano mo ilalagay iyong linya ng kuryente, linya ng tubig, iyong kalsada para synchronized and it will be orchestrated by one developer only.

Kasi ang plano natin talagang ang Marawi City, itong central business district, ay maging modern central business district. Ang problem sa Marawi ay iyong waste management. So magkakaroon ng centralized drainage system na buong 250 hectares na iyan iyong ginagamit sa mga factories, sa mga buildings and mga houses, it will be captured in one centralized drainage system at pupunta sa sewage treatment facility para pagpunta sa Lanao Lake, malinis na iyong tubig at hindi maka-damage sa environment.

Q:                                                           Sir, nabanggit ninyo kanina, isa-subject ito sa Swiss Challenge. At the moment ba sir, may mga nag-submit na ng mga designs nila? At saka puwede ninyo po bang pangalanan kung sino iyong mga nag-ano?

CHAIR DEL ROSARIO:               I think it’s premature na ipangalanan natin. But it is safe to say that we have five big developers. They will be submitting their unsolicited proposals by January 15. And based on the study of our experts, we met last Wednesday and yesterday, the earliest time that we can start with actual groundwork is April 15.

Now, how will it go? We will select from those five. We organized a technical working group to select from the five based on their submission. And then, once we have selected the original proponent, the original proponent and technical working group will sit down, come up with the details, term of preference and scope of work. Once it is completed, this will be published in the national newspaper. And in 30 days, anybody, any developer interested to challenge. If they say, this developer can do it for 50 billion, and there’s another developer would say I can do it for 40 billion, then the original proponent has to offer a better pricing for the same quality of his original proposal.

So we will be imposing a five percent reduction so that he can outbid the lowest, so in this way, we will get the best offer that the government can possibly get.

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB:        Secretary Lopez, on TRAIN. Marami na pong lumalabas ngayon na mga maling information na sinasabi ng Malacañang, and marami po iyong natatakot dahil maaapektuhan daw dito ay ang mga maliliit. Are you going to disseminate as the Secretary of the Trade and Industry, are you going to disseminate more information to the people iyong naiintindihan po? At saka, doon po sa mga mananamantala na mga negosyante, ano po ang ipapataw na parusa po para sa kanila?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Salamat ho sa tanong, Mr. Benjie. Ang ating departamento, actually nag-uusap-usap nga kami noong mga nakaraang linggo hanggang kahapon na we will be doing a message house para iyong communication ay mapaigting pa. Sa dami rin kasi ng nagtatanong which means talagang maraming gustong makaintindi, makaalam at para maikalat natin na huwag silang mangamba. At sinabi nga natin kanina na walang dahilan para mangamba dahil napakaliit lamang ng apekto nito sa … lalo na sa presyo, na sinasabing tataasan daw lahat ng presyo. Talagang maraming nananakot ‘no so kailangan i-clarify natin iyon.

Kaya doon sa mga magsasamantala, na magtataas ng kanilang presyo beyond the … kung pinu-project natin—kaya nga it’s so hard to imagine, kasi singko na sentimos lang naman ang impact nito sa isang de lata nga, sabi nga natin, magtataas ka pa ba ng more than five sentimos. Kaya kapag tinaasan nila ng, let say two pesos, pupuntahan natin at hihingian ng eksplanasyon. As to the penalty, ang penalty niyan ay from 20,000 to one million sa bawat tindahan.

Pero ito na nga ang tatanungin ko, kahit sinong negosyante, based on experience po, hindi ka talaga magtataas ng … hanggang may mga kumpitensya sa tabi mo at maraming …among the different brands, kung ikaw ay isang brand, hindi mo rin itataas nang todo-todo at siguradong hindi ka mabebenta at iyong kabila ang mabibili. So takot din silang magtaasan ng presyo. Kung ikaw ay isang tindahan at katabi ng maraming tindahan, takot ka ring magtaas ng presyo. So iyon din ang ating market force correcting mechanism. Pero tama rin iyon, may mapagsamantala lalo na kung nag-iisang tindahan iyan sa isang malayong lugar, iyon ho iyong ating pupuntahan at iyon ang penalty – from 20,000 to one million pesos.

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB:        Follow up ko po. Iyon pong presyo ng … iyong fare hike, humihingi na po sila; magdadagdag po ng four pesos doon sa iyong ngayon po, kasalukuyan. Makakaapekto pa rin po ito doon sa mga maliliit. At saka doon po sa taxi fare, gusto rin po nila magdagdag, Secretary?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Opo. So doon ho, again, sa larangan ito ng LTFRB so we will leave up to them. They have the template, the computation on anong impact ng fuel na dapat maging transportation. Pero sa aking simpleng pananaw dito bilang consumer, ang epekto niyan should not be more than eight percent. Kasi kung titingnan mo sa … kung ako’y may negosyong passenger jeep or taxi, ano ba ang percent ng fuel sa operations ko? Remember, hindi lang gasolina ang costing eh. Nandiyan din ang maintenance, nandiyan din ang paggarahe, spare parts, iyong driver so maraming costing diyan. Iyong gasolina is a percentage of total cost.

Okay, isa na iyon, anong percentage iyon? Ito, eh medyo kailangan kasi mag-Mathematics tayo! Anong percentage iyon? Ia-apply mo ngayon iyong percentage ng fuel increase! Ang fuel increase ay seven or eight percent lamang. Hindi naman lumaki nang sobrang doble iyan because 2.50 out of 34 pesos sa diesel. It’s only a seven or eight percent. You apply the eight percent to the percentage of production cost. So kung ako ang tatanungin, i-assume na natin na one hundred percent i-apply natin iyong eight percent ano, sabi nga natin, it will be less than eight percent iyong change ng fuel. I-assume na natin na buong eight percent ay ipapataw. Sa sampung pisong minimum na pamasahe or eight pesos—sampung piso na lang para madaling i-multiply—sampung piso na pamasahe, wala pang 80 centavos in effect iyong increase. Hindi one peso, hind two pesos, hindi three pesos or four pesos. Less pa doon iyong ating ano—

So kung kukumpyutin talaga natin, hindi ho dapat lumagpas  ng piso iyong adjustment. Iyon ho, anyway, LTFRB po ang magku-compute niyan. Pero iyon lang ang mga kunsiderasyon.

DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:         Kay Sec. Mon Lopez. Hindi lang yata pananakot kung hindi nararamdaman na ng ating mga mamimili iyong pagtaas ng presyo dahil isa sa mga news gathering ng ABS-CBN kanina ay namalengke at nagpunta sa Visayas Avenue. Iyong bihon dati na nabibili ng 17.50 ay 32 pesos na. Iyong sibuyas, limang piraso, twenty dati; ngayon, 33 pesos na. Ano po ang hakbang ng gobyerno dito lalo na sa mga maliliit na nagtitinda?

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     So ibigay iyong specific na palengke, papuntahan natin iyan. Pero kung sa isang tindahan lang nakita iyan, tingnan natin iyong ibang tindahan baka doon hindi nagdoble ang presyo ng bihon, eh di doon kayo bumili ng bihon. Ibig sabihin, basta may option si customer, si consumer, hindi dapat mangamba. Ang sisitahin natin kung lahat sila ay nagtaasan, doon ka magtataka, “Ano ito nag-usap-usap?” Pero basta may option ang consumer po ay matatakot din iyong nagtaas na iyon, sige mabubulukan ka ng bihon, hindi mo mabebenta iyan dahil ikaw ang pinakamahal na bihon. So iyon ang market forces ho.

Pero kapag hindi siya nagbaba at lahat sila nagtaas doon, doon pumapasok ang gobyerno natin. Pero hanggang mayroong choice ay consumers will decide.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN:     Kay Asec. Marie. Regarding po kay former MARINA Administrator Marcial Amaro, because he was on TV this morning, and he said na iyong letter na na-receive ng Presidente supposedly from the MARINA employees was not from the MARINA employees. In fact, they will be coming up daw with the resolution denying that they sent the President a letter in the first place. Question ko lang po: Did the President take the letter on face value or mayroon din po bang efforts ang Office of the President to investigate itong mga ganito? Kasi I remember, this was also the case na inireklamo din ni former General Dionisio Santiago before.

ASEC. BANAAG:                            Pia, since that is within the realm of the Presidential Spokesperson, I leave it up to the Presidential Spokesperson, and the President has decided we should respect it.

SEC. LOPEZ:                                     Ma’am, iyong magku-complain sa presyo ‘no, nilagay ko na sa likod ng cellphone ko iyong… kasi hindi ko natatandaan eh. So Consumer Protection Advocacy Division, 7513233 o kaya 7510384. So kapag may naobserbahan sila na unfair trade practice sa lugar nila, i-specify lang kailangan iyong tindahan at saka iyong address tapos papupuntahan natin. Thank you.

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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau)