The Ministry of Social Services and Development’s (MSSD) housing project for homeless families in Tawi-Tawi. (Photo from MSSD)
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) is set to build permanent shelters for homeless indigent and indigenous families in Tawi-Tawi displaced by recurrent natural and human-induced disasters.
This initiative, part of MSSD’s Bahay Program, totals to P95.5 million budget.
Headed by Engr. Yusoph Pilas, MSSD’s Engineering Section conducted site assessments from July 15-18, 2024, in various municipalities across the province.
In Bongao, 100 shelters are planned: 40 in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, 20 each in Barangays Pakias, Malassa, and Tarawakan. Sitangkai will also see 40 units in Barangay Datu Putih. Additional assessments will follow in South Ubian and Turtle Island, with plans for 35 and 16 families, respectively.
Each unit, measuring 7.0 meters by 6.5 meters and costing P500,000.00, includes two bedrooms, a comfort room, a kitchen, and a living area.
Engr. Pilas emphasized partnerships with local government units, through memoranda of agreement, for the implementation of the projects.
“The LGUs will be the ones implementing these projects, while MSSD, through its Tawi-Tawi Provincial Filed Office, will be monitoring the simultaneous construction across the province”, said Pilas.
“Hopefully, the housing units will be completed and turned over to the eligible recipients before the year ends”, he added.
Government-owned land provided by LGUs will be utilized for the MSSD’s housing project, demonstrating collaborative efforts between the Bangsamoro government and local units to foster peace and sustain service delivery to constituents. (Laila Aripin/BIO with reports from MSSD)
