COTABATO CITY — Celebration of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr will be more memorable for 50 families from Barangay Kibleg in Upi, Maguindanao as they move into their newly built homes turned over by the Bangsamoro Government on Tuesday, April 26.
The two-bedroom core shelters with light and water components are part of the Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPAYANAN) program — one of the banner programs of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) which aims to provide decent houses to families who are among the poorest of the poor.
One of the beneficiaries, Abdulmanan Salik, 52, a farmer with six children, was emotional as he shared how their new home will change their lives.
“May bahay naman po kami pero tagpi-tagpi lang. Kaya noong nakalipat po kami dito ay malaki po ang pasasalamat namin. Ito din po ang first time na makakatira kami sa isang concrete na bahay,” Salik said in vernacular.
“Isa po ako sa nabigyan dito kasi isa po akong miyembro ng MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Bukod po doon, kami po ay hirap sa buhay,” he added.
Another recipient of the project was 61-year-old corn and vegetable farmer Azik Waguia.
“Masaya kami na nagkaroon kami ng ganitong bahay. Yung bahay namin dati ay hindi kasing ganda nitong ibinigay sa amin at maliit lang din,” Waguia shared.
He encouraged his fellow beneficiaries to unite in taking care of their new community.
On the other hand, Barangay Chairman Abdila Alabat disclosed that many of the residents in their community do not have a decent dwelling.
“Malaking tulong itong proyekto ng BARMM sa aming lugar dahil karamihan dito ay walang maayos na tirahan. Sana madagdagan pa yung mga ganitong programa dahil nakikita ko na malaking tulong ito sa mga Bangsamoro,” Alabat said.
Meanwhile, BARMM Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain and concurrent program manager of KAPYANAN shared that the provision of core shelters to the poorest of the poor in the region is part of the priorities of the regional government.
“This housing project is one of the commitments of the leadership of our Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. As you take care of your new home, it comes with the inspiration of the government of the day to strive more,” Cusain said.
The core shelters were funded under the CY 2019 BARMM’s Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (BRIDGE) program and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
