MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--City Mayor Majul Gandamra clarified that there is no truth in the information that four villages of the city will be dissolved. 

"Hindi tama na madidissolve ang four barangays, in fact nagpagawa pa ho tayo ng apat na barangay complexes doon sa apat na barangay (it's not true that four barangays will be dissolved, in fact we even built four barangay complexes in those barangays),” he said in a virtual press conference, July 8.

Rumors have been circulating on social media that residents of Datu Naga, Datu sa Dansalan, Dansalan, and Sabala a Manao can no longer return to their lots to rebuild their houses because of government infrastructures being built there.

“Only a portion of this land from these four barangays ang inikupa ng government for the construction of these government facilities at hindi ho 'yung kabuuan ng four barangays, but only portion, at ito yung reclamation area,” Gandamra explained.

(Only a portion of this land from these four barangays was occupied by the government for the construction of these government facilities and not the whole of the four barangays, but only a portion and this is the reclamation area)

The mayor pointed out that the government infrastructures are being constructed in the former locations of the public market, the city mall, and other facilities owned by the city government.

He also emphasized that those living within the reclamation area cannot go back as the reclaimed area is owned by the city government.

“That’s the reason why mayroong pinatayong permanent shelters because they will be accommodated dito sa permanent shelters na ito aside from the pending compensation bill kung sila po ay magkakaqualify dun sa assistance to be given by the government,” he said.

(That's the reason why we are constructing permanent shelters because they will be accommodated here in these permanent shelters aside from the pending compensation bill if they qualify for the assistance to be given by the government)

A total of 170 permanent shelters are set to be awarded this month. Fifty of the housing units are located in Pamayandeg Ranao Residences in Barangay Mipantao Gadongan while 150 are in Darussalam Village in Barangay Dulay Proper. (APB/PIA-10/PIA-ICIC)