MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, PIA)--City Mayor Majul Gandamra firmly maintained that internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in transitory shelters will not be pulled out until they can reside in places which they can have for good.

“Para po malaman ng mga tao, huwag po sila mangamba. Wala pong madidisplace in case na hindi pa tapos ang mga bahay sa loob ng ground zero or in case hindi pa tapos ang permanent shelters na kung saan sila ay malalagay because wala na po silang babalikan sa ground zero,” he said during the ocular site inspection of the Grand Mosque Wednesday, June 23.

[Just to let the people know, they should not be afraid. No one will be displaced in case houses inside the ground zero will not be done or in case the permanent shelters where they will be placed if they have cannot return to the ground zero will be finished.]

Gandamra said such matter was discussed in an existing agreement between the city government and the landowners.

Meanwhile, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chief Eduardo Del Rosario shared that the national government is open to procure the lands where the temporary houses are founded to have it as government property depending on their conducted assessment.

“We are consulting the local government unit if indeed, there is a need to preserve and maintain the location as a permanent shelter site. We are open to buy the lot where they stand so that eventually, it will be given to them. It depends on our assessment within the year on what to do,” he said.

To recall, Del Rosario reiterated the completion of permanent shelters by the end of December 2021 while homeowners of sectors 4 to 7 can rebuild or repair their properties starting October of the same year. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC/Lanao del Sur)