THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) is targeting to turnover a total of 1,000 housing units for free to eligible recipients of the 'costless' shelter program by the end of 2023.

Esmael Ebrahim, director general of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD), said the provision of housing units across the region as part of the Ministry’s ongoing Resettlement Housing Program.

Ebrahim said the program aims to provide costless housing units with water systems, solar lights, access roads, and support services for resettlement which may include livelihood services from partner agencies.

“We are looking forward that by the end of the year, makaturn over tayo ng mga 1,000 units na pabahay in the whole region," Ebrahim said.

“Kasi marami naman tayong pabahay na 90 percent, 87 percent, 80 percent (ang progress). So ibig sabihin, before the end of the year, those 80 to 90 percent will be completed to 100 percent,” he added.

As of August 2023, the ministry has been on a building and turnover blitz where a total of 2,593 housing units were already approved, consisting of 257 completed units, 2,136 with ongoing construction, and 200 others that are yet to be started.

Among the program’s target beneficiaries include former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants, the poorest of the poor, victims of calamity or conflict, indigenous people, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are identified and selected with the help of other partners such as local government units.

Meanwhile, Ebrahim said that the ministry strictly adheres to the guidelines for careful selection of recipients to ensure their strict compliance and promote fairness among them. (SunStar Zamboanga)