THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) continues to provide free housing to indigents, indigenous peoples, internally displaced persons, martyrs of war, and other members of marginalized communities in the region.
On Wednesday, October 4, Barmm held a ceremonial turnover of 150 decent housing units built in three different municipalities—Barangay Kuloy, Shariff Aguak; Barangay Nunangen, Datu Angal Midtimbang; and, Barangay Sugadol, Datu Abdullah Sangki—all in Maguindanao del Sur where each site has 50 units.
The Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) said in a statement Friday, October 6, said that the ceremonial awarding was held of the housing units was held in Kulay village, Shariff Aguak.
The BIO said the housing units are part of the Kapayapaan sa Pamayananan (Kapyanan) program of Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim.
One of his flagship programs, Kapyanan is intended for the poorest of the poor, internally displaced persons, martyrs of war, indigenous people, and other members of marginalized communities.
"Yung bahay na natanggap ko sa Barmmay naging daan para mabuhayan kami ng pag-asa (The house I receive from Barmm became a way for us to live with hope)," said Datu Kong Hamid, a beneficiary in Kuloy village.
Kamid, 43, primarily sourced his income from farming which is barely sufficient for their basic needs.
He has four kids and dwells in a house made of light materials, thus, he is grateful for being chosen as one of the beneficiaries.
"Masaya po ako dahil buong buhay ko, ngayon lang po ako nakatanggap ng ganitong pabahay (I am happy because all my life, it is only now I received this kind of housing)," he added.
First of those who occupied their home immediately after the turnover was the family of 32-year-old Darwisa Kamad.
She has six children and is currently pregnant with her seventh child.
Speaking in Maguindanaon vernacular, Kamad said that her family doesn’t have a shelter they can call their home.
Like most of the beneficiaries, Kamid’s family income is dependent on farming and their income is barely enough.
The Kapyanan core shelter, funded through the Bangsamoro Appropriations Act (BAA), features two bedrooms, a comfort room, a dining area, and a small living room and is equipped with a water system and solar power.
While most of the new Barmm housing design has three bedrooms, the structure in the three sites is based on the earlier batches of core shelters, hence, it has only two bedrooms.
To ensure that beneficiaries would take care of their unit, Kapyanan Project Manager Mohammad Abdullah said that they will do constant monitoring even after the core shelter has been turned over.
“We have a dedicated staff to monitor our facility to ensure that our beneficiaries are compliant with our agreement,” Abdullah said. (SunStar Zamboanga)