MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chief Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario emphasized the convergence of efforts in the construction of permanent shelters for displaced families of the city.

"Ito ay ginawa sa pagtulong-tulong ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, ng government of Japan, ng national government, local government unit, SHFC at UN-Habitat," he said referring to the 120 housing units in Darussalam Village that were awarded to home partners, Thursday, July 22.

(This was done through the cooperation of government agencies, the government of Japan, the national government, local government units, SHFC and UN-Habitat)

He cited that the three important phases in any settlement are land acquisition, land development, and housing construction.

“Sa pag purchase ng lupa, yan ang pinunduhan ng ating gobyerno. Humingi tayo sa Office of the President ng pondo para mabili itong lupa at madevelop natin which is actually 60% of the total project cost. Ang housing construction is 40% of the total. Without that 40%, kahit tayo ay may lupa at nadevelop natin with road networks at drainage system, di rin tayo makakatira dahil wala yung bahay,” he said.

(The government funded the purchase of land. We asked from the Office of the President for funds to buy and develop this land which is actually 60% of the total project cost. Housing construction is 40% of the total. Without that 40%, even if we have the land and we have developed it with road networks and drainage system, we will not be able to reside (there) because we do not have the house)

The 120 housing units in Darussalam Village were built by UN Habitat under the Rebuilding Marawi through Community-Driven Shelter and Livelihood Project with funding from the Japan government. The land was acquired and developed by the Philippine government through the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).

Other partners that contributed to the realization of the Darussalam Village were TESDA and Holcim Philippines through their sponsorship in the conduct of Galing Mason Skills Training for local workers who participated in the shelter construction.

TFBM, on the other hand, supervises and monitors the project to ensure its implementation is on track.

“We have a long way to go, marami pang housing units na ibibigay tayo (we have more housing units to award). We have a total of 2,557 housing units,” Del Rosario said.

Another 50 housing units in Pamayandeg Ranaw Residences in Barangay Mipantao Gadongan were also turned over by UN-Habitat and its partner National Housing Authority to identified home partners on the same day.

In February of this year, 109 permanent houses in Hadiya Village were turned over by UN-Habitat and SHFC to displaced families

“Next month when we come over, we will be turning over 200 housing units constructed by the National Housing Authority,” Del Rosario added. (APB/PIA-ICIC)