PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte – The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD), in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), delivered shelter kits and essential items to 37 families in Barangay Pinantao, Parang, whose homes were severely damaged by Typhoon Carina on July 9.
Each family received crucial household items including sleeping mats, flashlights, blankets, plates, drinking glasses, a cooking pot with a cover, and a cooking pan. Additionally, they were provided with shelter kits containing tarpaulin, a hammer, rope, and assorted nails.
Zaika Baguio, a 28-year-old resident, shared her experience, explaining that her house was destroyed by the flash flood while she was conducting a census in nearby barangays.
“Nothing was left; everything was swept away by the flood,” she said in Filipino. Baguio expressed gratitude for the assistance from the BARMM government but also highlighted the ongoing need for further support.
MHSD Director General Esmael Ebrahim, MHSD Director II for Operation and Management Services Salem Demuna, and CRS Senior Project Officer James Baay led the distribution.
According to Ebrahim, MHSD oversees shelter clusters under the Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) and serves as the Bangsamoro Government’s housing arm.
“The ministry is mandated to work for resettlement program. We will try our best to help these affected families and let us pray and hope na mabigyan sila [housing unit] Inn Shaa Allah.” Ebrahim stated.
Meanwhile, Baay from CRS announced that another 300 families in Matanog will receive similar aid next month.
CRS, an international humanitarian organization, focuses on areas such as climate change adaptation, community-based savings, disaster risk reduction, emergency response, homes and communities, social cohesion and justice, women and youth empowerment. CRS Philippines has partnered with MHSD for three years to support the Bangsamoro community. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
