MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The construction of 200 housing units in Barangay Malimono of this city is set to be completed in 450 calendar days following the groundbreaking ceremony held on January 14.

Officials from the Office of the Chief Minister’s Marawi Rehabilitation Program (MRP) and the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) led the ceremony marking the official commencement of the project.

This initiative of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim will provide permanent shelters for internally displaced families from the Most Affected Areas (MAA) of the city, who lost their shelters in the 2017 siege.

Minister Hamid Aminoddin Barra assured that MHSD, as the housing arm of the region and MRP’s implementing partner, will oversee the efficient implementation of the project.

“We are hoping for the fastest completion of the housing units to benefit the neediest families in Marawi City,” Barra emphasized.

"And this is part of our responsibility at the MHSD, as we are not only accountable to the Bangsamoro people and government and the Mujahideens, but also to the national government and the Filipinos with their taxes, and ultimately to Allah (SWT),” he added.

MRP’s Program Manager and Member of the Parliament (MP) Said Shiek reiterated the significance of ‘moral governance’ in ensuring the success of the Bangsamoro Government’s projects intended for indigent and vulnerable constituents like the IDPs.

“Moral governance is the initiative of the Chief Minister. We have to ensure the most proper and effective implementation of this project following the advocacy of the BARMM government. We will not progress if we are not united with ‘qalbun saleem’ (clean and sound heart),” Sheik said.

Witnessing the event were MP Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong, MHSD-Lanao del Sur Provincial Director Benjamin Alangca, Office of MP Abdullah Macapaar, PSC Chairperson DCM Aleem Ali Solaiman’s Chief of Staff Sultan Cosain Sulaiman, management of JCL Builders Inc., and representatives from the city and barangay local government units.

Notably, on November 25, 2023, MRP and MHSD entered into six memoranda of agreements (MOA) for additional infrastructure projects in the city and its nearby municipalities to improve IDPs’ living conditions in their permanent shelters. These projects specifically address the displaced families’ need for water systems, electricity, health services, and road networks.

Since the inception of BARMM, the rehabilitation of Marawi City remains one of the 12-point priority agenda of Chief Minister Ebrahim’s administration. (BIO with reports from MHSD/PIA Lanao del Sur)