(From right to left) Abdulsamad Alamansa and Farida Yacob, his wife, pose on February 21,2024, in front of their housing unit received from the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD). (Faisal Camsa/BIO)
The Philippines, a country in Southeast Asia, is known to experience only two seasons which are wet and dry.
Indeed, only a few nations experience this occurrence worldwide. As Science says, they are usually those that are near the equator, an imaginary line believed to divide the planet into Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Despite having an expected timeline for these seasons, they are suddenly interrupted because of climate change, an unforeseen temperature shift and weather patterns.
Thus, this creates an increased day temperature, frequent and intense storms, and altering rainfall, among others, which may cause inconvenience to many.
Alamansa narrates his story as a lucky beneficiary of the 50-housing unit project of MHSD in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. (Faisal Camsa/BIO)
In the BARMM, Abdulsamad Taup Alamansa, 51, a Ustadz (teacher), was once a constant casualty of endless rainfall, which extremely affected not only him but also his loved ones.
Growing up, Alamansa thought that regularly transferring to different houses from place to place without having a comfortable shelter to stay in would be the narrative of his life forever.
“Apya nakaisa a da ku mapagitung i mauma i di nami den nasisita i kagedam sa madalem a gay para bu di golanan,” he said.
[Never did I think of that, one day, we would need not wake up in the middle of the night just to transfer to a portion of our house where the leaked water from the rainfall does not pour on us.]
He also mentioned that due to poverty, renovating their house is the last thing they can afford and is, unfortunately, less of a priority, because serving food on their table comes first above all.
Luckily, Alamansa is one of the Bangsamoro constituents who received costless housing units from the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development’s (MHSD) Resettlement Housing Project.
This project aims to provide free housing units with water systems, solar lights, access roads, and support services for resettlement, which may include livelihood services from partner agencies.
According to the Ustadz, they used to fret nonstop about being removed from where their home was.
“Su nabudsudan na walay nami a kena lekami a lupa. Apya ngin a oras ka masisita nu kegkwan su lupa nin, na da madtalu nami lu ka simembay kami bu,” he stated.
[Our house was situated on a parcel of land that we do not own. As soon as the owner reclaims ownership, we could do nothing, for it was just borrowed.]
This made his entire family feel relieved after finally owning a land title and securing a house unit, that he later called his own, from the MHSD—the housing arm of the interim government.
“Nakadtakena su pamusungan nami sa aden lekami a nabpustuan. Kadsukor sa Allah a nakaapas sa mayaba,” he said.
[Our hearts were filled with joy at finally owning land. Thanks to Allah, this dream was finally realized.]
As of writing, a total of 500 housing units were officially awarded by BARMM with100 units in the Special Geographic Area (SGA), 50 in Maguindanao, 250 in Basilan, and 100 in Sulu.
In the first quarter of 2024, an additional 100 housing units are expected to be awarded by the MHSD.
The ministry said that a total of 1,900 housing units are either still being constructed or yet to be awarded as of March 2024, which are as follows: 300 in Maguindanao del Norte (MDN) and Maguindanao del Sur (MDS); 700 in Lanao del Sur (LDS) and Lanao del Norte (LDN); 150 in SGA; 100 in Cotabato City; 300 in Tawi-Tawi; 150 in Basilan; and 200 in Sulu.
The overall number of housing units that are expected to be constructed this year is 1,250, to wit: 250 in Maguindanao del Norte (MDN) and Maguindanao del Sur (MDS); 250 in Lanao del Sur (LDS) and Lanao del Norte (LDN); 125 in SGA; 75 in Cotabato City; 200 in Basilan; 200 in Sulu; and 150 in Tawi-Tawi.
This is an aerial view of the 50 housing units in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. (Photo courtesy of MHSD)
Some of the project’s target beneficiaries include former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants, the poorest of the poor, victims of calamity or armed conflict, indigenous people, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and internally displaced persons (IDPs), among others, who are identified and selected with the help of other partners such as local government units (LGUs).
Aside from the unit they received from the Bangsamoro Government, Alamansa, together with his co-beneficiaries, also organized the Ketur Darussalaam Home Owners’ Association (HOA), as advised by the MHSD.
Under Republic Act No. 99004, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations,” HOA is designed to promote informed and self-sufficient communities, ensuring the owners’ empowerment and effective management of their living spaces.
Since the establishment of the organization, Alamansa has stressed that the people in their small community have started to work hand-in-hand and spontaneously support one another.
Some of the members of Ketur Darussalaam Home Owners’ Association doing MHSD’s iconic housing sign (Faisal Camsa/BIO)
They also encouraged themselves to sustain cleanliness, initiate beautifying their respective areas of responsibility, and treasure what was gratuitously provided to them.
He also urged his fellow Bangsamoro, who are soon-to-be beneficiaries of the units, to foster sab’r, an Islamic concept of patience and endurance, while the Bangsamoro Government is implementing its various initiatives for the public.
“Sa mga pagali nami a da pan makakwa sa mayaba, na edsab’r silan ka makoma bun i budget na uman isa,” said Alamansa.
[To my fellow Bangsamoro who are yet to receive a housing unit, please be patient because everyone’s budget will arrive eventually.]
“Sekami den menem a mga nauna makakwa, ebenduwa nami i mga lused nami sa t’yan a Bangsamoro a da pan mga walay nin, endu isa-isa bu i manggula na mga taw na BARMM,” he added.
[From us, who benefitted first, we pray that our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters will soon receive what is due them, so we remain as “one” in the BARMM.]
He further wished to make some solar panels, roads, and fences available to them, to aid their needs in electricity and accessible transportation.
Ustadz Alamansa then expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Day, especially Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, for its unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of its people.
“Bedsukuran ku si Chief Minister Ebrahim sa lekanin a leadership ka su kinabprograma nin, magidsan i kalsada, bangagyan na mga wata o mga ospital, a nakwa na mga taw nin.”
[I thank Chief Minister Ebrahim for his leadership, especially in conducting programs, such as road infrastructure, schools for children, or hospitals, that benefit his constituents.]
“Kagina apya kena sekanin Ulama, a Ulama i utek nin. Alhamdulillah.”
[Although he is not an Islamic scholar, he thinks like one. Praise be to Allah.]
The Bangsamoro housing unit recipient is now at ease, stating that the only rain that does not pour is the one that does not leak anymore inside their new home.
