BARMM housing project brings hope to to the homesless in Maguindanao del Norte

The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) awards a total of 50 housing units with land development improvement to qualified Bangsamoro families in Brgy. Nabalawag, Barira, Maguindanao del Norte, on October 10, 2024. (Photo courtesy of MHSD)

DAVAO CITY — Some 50 homeless families in Barangay Nabalawag, Barira town in Maguindanao del Norte find new hope in their new homes, after the Bangsamoro government awarded the new housing units during October 1o ceremony.

Hassana Balitoc, one beneficiary, shared that the housing project has significantly improved their socio-economic conditions, stating, “Shelter is no longer a worry.” She recounted a fellow beneficiary’s emotional response, noting that without the Bangsamoro Government, he would never have had a home.

The housing units, funded under the General Appropriations Act of Bangsamoro (GAAB) 2021, are part of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development’s (MHSD) Resettlement Housing Program, which offers cost-free housing with essential services such as water systems, solar lights, and access roads.

Target beneficiaries include former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants, the poorest, victims of calamities, indigenous peoples, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

MHSD Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin Barra emphasized that these housing programs are the result of decades of conflict and the subsequent peace agreements that led to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). He urged beneficiaries to transform their houses into homes and to avoid illegal activities, reminding them that their support comes from lawful sources.

Looking ahead, MHSD Director-General Esmael Ebrahim announced plans for an additional 100 housing units, along with 150 units from the National Housing Authority (NHA) and 100 units for each of the six major camps.

The turnover ceremony aligns with National Shelter Month, as declared by former President Fidel Ramos, and supports Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s agenda to develop reliable infrastructure for economic growth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).