MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--One hundred twenty (120) displaced families now have a permanent home they can call their own after the UN-Habitat, Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) awarded them certificates of house and lot ownership in Darussalam Village, Brgy. Dulay Proper, this city.
The permanent houses were built by UN-Habitat under the Rebuilding Marawi through Community-Driven Shelter and Liveinood Project with funding from the government of Japan while the land was acquired and developed by the national government through the SHFC.
SHFC President Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, TFBM chairperson Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, Marawi Mayor Majul U. Gandamra, and UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo hand over the certificates of house and lot ownership to Datubla Macabando representing the Barakalah Homeowners Association (PIA-ICIC)
UN-Habitat country programme manager Christopher Rollo said the120 home partners were selected through a vigorous process following the guidelines of the Project Steering Committee.
"Dumaan ito sa masusing pag aaral para mapili sino yung karapat-daoat na mabigyan ng permanent housing," he said.
[This went through a thorough study to select who are eligible to be given permanent housing.]
He emphasized that they prioritized those living within the three to six meters easement along with the Agus River and Lake Lanao areas which were categorized by the government as No Dwell Zone.
Datubla Macabando, Barakallah Homeowners Association President, thanked UN-Habitat, SHFC, Japan government, TFBM, and the local government of Marawi on behalf of the eight (8) homeowners associations (HOA) of Darussalam Village
"Makakaasa kayo na itong bahay na natanggap namin ay aming aalagaan at mamahalin dahil ito ay hindi lang para sa amin kundi para din sa mga anak namin," he said.
[Rest assured that we will take care of and love this house we received because it is not only for us but also for our children.]
Datubla Macabando, Barakallah Homeowners Association President, expresses his gratitude to UN-Habitat, SHFC, Japan government, TFBM, and the local government of Marawi for the permanent homes awarded to them. (PIA-ICIC)
Rocma Imam Dumamba, one of the home partners, also expressed the same gratitude for the new house awarded to them.
"Pinakamahalaga sa panahon na yun, habang nagpuputukan, na makalabas ng Marawi na buhay. Nasunog man ang bahay at mga gamit namin ay malaking pasasalamat ko ngayon na may sarili na kaming bahay. Ang asawa ko ay may malubhang sakit at nakakain lamang gamit ang tubo - mas makabubuti sa kanya na dito na kami titira at dito si ya magpapagaling," Rocma said as she recalled the long walk her family took to the Municipality of Kapai where they sought refuge in the house of relatives.
[What was of primary importance at that time, as gunshots were exchanged, was to get out of Marawi alive. Even if our house and the f we left behind were burnt to the ground, I am very grateful that we now have a house we can call our own. My husband is critically ill and could only eat through a tube-it will do him good to live here -this is where he can recuperate.]
Meanwhile, SHFC President Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling said the construction of the Darussalam Village which means peaceful abode is a community project thus he urged the recipient-families to be united and help each other in maintaining the village. (APB/PIA-ICIC)
