THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) is building houses for internally displaced persons (IDPs), who had been staying for years in temporary shelters in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The groundbreaking for the construction of 84 housing units worth P42 million was held Monday, February 20.
The funding for the project came from the General Appropriation Acts of the Bangsamoro (Gaab) 2021.
The project aims to provide shelter to vulnerable families displaced by human-induced conflict in the Ampatuan town.
Minister Raisa Jajurie of the Ministry of Social Services and Development in Barmm (MSSD-Barmm), said in her message during the groundbreaking ceremony that the intervention is part of the durable solutions to uplift the living conditions of IDPs.
“Isa po ito sa kasama sa sinasabi nating durable solution na yung mga lumikas po sa kanilang mga lugar dahil sa sakuna ay magkaroon ng panibagong tirahan na malayo sa peligro o kaya'y mas mainam kaysa dati nilang sitwasyon,” Jajurie said.
(This is one of the components of what we say is a durable solution for those who have been displaced from their places due to the disaster to have a new place to live that is far from the danger or better than their previous situation.)
“Sinisikap natin na kung hindi man sila makabalik sa dati nilang tirahan, makapagbigay tayo ng tutuluyan nila kung saan mas ligtas sila,” she added.
(We are trying that if they cannot return to their previous residence, we can provide them with a place to stay where they will be safer.)
The MSSD-Barmm together with the municipal government of Ampatuan have been envisioning about the project since 2019. After a series of evaluation, both have worked hand-in-hand to push the project funding.
Esmael Musa, a father of seven who personally witnessed the ceremony, expressed his gratitude to Barmm for the provision of such shelters.
"Tinamaan ng mortar yung bahay namin noong 2019 kaya ngayon nakatira na lang kami sa barong-barong kaya malaki po ang palasalamat namin sa Barmm na kasama kami sa benipisyaro," Musa said.
(Our house was hit by a mortar in 2019, so now we just live in a shack. We are very grateful to Barmm since we are included as beneficiary.)
Ampatuan Mayor Esmael Sindatok said he is saddened by the state of living of his constituents but with limited resources, the local government cannot provide the shelter needs of the IDPs.
Hence, he was grateful to the regional government that filled the gap.
"Kung makita niyo lang po yung tinitirhan nila ng mga taong ito, sobrang hirap po kaya malaking tulong po itong pabahay na ito para sa aking mga kababayaan," Sindatok said.
(If you could just see where these people live, it's very difficult so this housing is a big help for my countrymen.) (SunStar Zamboanga)