Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill extending assistance to victims of terror attacks following the bombing of a gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Dec. 3.

Under his proposed Senate Bill 2511, or the “Terror Victims Assistance Act of 2023,” Padilla said it seeks to establish a program for victims and families of fatalities, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

He said assistance includes financial, burial, material, medical, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation with funds “shall be included in the yearly budget.”

“In most cases, if not all, victims of these evil acts who suffered injuries and families of those who were killed during terror attacks are left on their own with mounting expenses, such as but not limited to: medical, burial, transportation, and even long-term rehabilitation,” Padilla said in his explanatory note in the bill released on Friday.

He said the government shall provide financial, material, psychosocial and referral support and services to individuals and households who became victims of terrorism; and ensure the swift and efficient delivery of such support and services to them.

The Terror Victims Assistance Program shall be established as a government program through the DSWD to ensure assistance will be given to the victims. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/senateph