The newly turned-over housing units at the municipalities of Nabalawag and Kadayangan in BARMM’s Special Geographic Area. The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development handed over the houses to its beneficiaries on August 12. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
KADAYANGAN, Special Geographic Area—One hundred families from the newly-created towns in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) can finally enjoy their two-bedroom houses courtesy of the regional government.
On Monday, August 12, the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) led the turnover ceremony of 50 units of resettlement housing in Barangay Nabalawag, Nabalawag Municipality, and another 50 units in Barangay Tumbras, Kadayangan Municipality.
Both towns were carved out from Midsayap, Cotabato Province, and constituted into municipalities through laws signed by Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. These laws were ratified through a plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Election (Comelec) on April 13, 2024, with the majority of the electorates favoring them.
Noraisa Abdulhamid, a mother of two, was emotional while waiting for the formal awarding ceremony. Along with her husband and their kids, they patiently waited for their new home that would forever change the way they sleep.
“So walay nami na sako bo e lending nin endu atep nin ah pagulanan,” Noraisa said in Maguindanaon vernacular, which means they used to live in a house with walls made from scrapped sacks and a roof that leaked when it rains.
While it is particularly hot inside their makeshift house on sunny days, it is also not comfortable during the rainy season. At some point at night when everyone has fallen asleep, Noraisa has to wake up to ensure that their kids will not be soaked in rainwater.
The newly built structures have a 49-square-meter floor area, two bedrooms, a comfort room, and a living room. Its exterior is painted light green while the interior is painted white, with tiled floors and jalousie windows.
Funded through the General Appropriations Act for the Bangsamoro 2022, MHSD Minister Hamid Aminoddin Barra told recipients that the awarding is just one of many testaments that BARMM is doing its best to serve its constituents.
“This is another proof of the BARMM government’s deep care for you as almost every town in the province has a housing project established by MHSD,” Barra said.
“Now that you have this house, you now must turn it into a home,” Barra added, citing that the house is just a physical structure while making it a home requires a family that lives harmoniously and full of love.
Member of the Parliament Mohammad Kellie Antao, who also graced the occasion, was emotional while delivering his keynote message.
“Take care of this project as part of your commitment to the BARMM,” Antao said. He is a former board member from the Cotabato Province before his assignment in BARMM and is known for his genuine concern for the Bangsamoro people, particularly in the region’s SGA.
Aside from Minister Barra and MP Antao, several key officials from BARMM have also attended including the two OIC mayors of Kadayangan and Nabalawag with their municipal council members. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
