Photo by Marhom Ibrahim / BIO
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government through its housing arm embarked on exploring innovative means for sustainable implementation of housing programs in the region.
In a forum organized by the Ministry of Human Settlement and Development (MHSD) on Thursday, Aug. 31, housing experts, construction professionals, subdivision developers, and other invited guests shared their valuable insights on housing industry best practices.
Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, in his statement delivered by Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain, described the event as a testament to the regional government’s commitment to excellence and equity in housing.
“Indeed, this event marks a remarkable step in the pursuit of sustainable, affordable, and accessible housing in Bangsamoro,” Ebrahim said.
One of the highlights of the event was the launching of the Human Settlement Manual collaboratively developed by MHSD and the Catholic Relief Service (CRS). The manual contains principles to establish a unified process and procedures for the implementation of human settlement projects within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“As we embark on this journey and outline this manual, let us remember that this occasion today is our promise to the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region: a promise that their homes will be built on a foundation of care, collaboration, and compassion,” Ebrahim on his statement referring to the manual.
The forum primarily focused on discussing the benefits and challenges of alternative construction methods for sustainable housing, exploring the feasibility and potential impact of adopting construction methods, and sharing best practices.
To make the event more significant, MHSD also invited project beneficiaries from the provinces of Basilan and Maguindanao for the ceremonial awarding of the housing units.
One of the beneficiaries Abdulnasser Samba expressed his profound gratitude to the Bangsamoro Government for the awarded shelter to his family.
Samba, who works as a security guard, said that his meager income is almost enough to sustain their daily needs thus it would be almost impossible to even set aside a small amount to slowly build a home.
“Yung kita ko po ay sapat lamang sa pang araw-araw namin kaya malaki po yung pasasalamat ko po sa BARMM sa pabahay na ito,” Samba said.
According to him, his family used to live in his parents’ house but unfortunately, the said house was demolished in 2019.
Samba, along with other beneficiaries, is a recipient of the 50-unit housing resettlement project in Barangay Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao del Norte financed by the regional government from the General Appropriation Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) 2022.
The other beneficiaries who also symbolically received their home came from the 100 housing resettlement project with water system level 2 in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, and another 50 units in Barangay Proper Tuburan, Muhammad Ajul both in the province of Basilan and financed through the Special Development Fund 2020.
Completing the list were beneficiaries from Barangay Tipo-Tipo proper, Tipo-Tipo where MHSD constructed a 50-unit housing resettlement sourced from GAAB 2022. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
