MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) — A total of 50 families in Barangay Buot in the municipality of Wao now have safe and secure places to call home, thanks to a housing project under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government’s flagship initiative.
The project, called Kapayapaan sa Pamayananan (KAPYANAN) by the Office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, aims to provide housing for the most vulnerable sectors of society. This includes the poorest of the poor, internally displaced persons, war martyrs, indigenous peoples, and other members of marginalized communities.
The newly constructed houses were turned over to the beneficiaries on June 6.
One of the recipients, Asalan Ampatua, 45, could not contain his joy. “We have a house, but it’s made up of light materials that have been dilapidated over the years,” he said. Ampatua, a skilled worker and father of four, can no longer perform strenuous tasks due to health concerns. He said the house offers tremendous security and comfort for his family.
The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) First District Engineering Office in Lanao del Sur oversaw the project’s implementation.
District Engineer Abolcair Langilao expressed his appreciation to the BARMM government for entrusting his office with the project. He highlighted the importance of such initiatives and the team’s commitment to delivering quality results.
“We have a lot of projects, both regular and special projects, being implemented, and we’re glad that we were able to implement them well,” Langilao said.\
Community spirit paves the way
Providing affordable housing often comes with challenges, particularly land availability. However, a former government official and resident stepped forward with a generous solution.
Lominog Polayagan, who retired from service in 2018, donated a 1.5-hectare portion of his land to create this new community. His vision extends beyond housing, aiming to foster a thriving community built on love, respect, and Islamic values.
“I have a vision to make this village a thriving community, which has always been my dream,” he said.
KAPYANAN Project Manager Engr. Mohammad Abdullah emphasized the importance of responsible ownership. He reminded the recipients to take care of the core shelters, stating that his team will continue monitoring the units to ensure proper use and compliance with the agreements between the beneficiaries and KAPYANAN.
The former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao initially funded the project and continued under the BARMM established by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054), ratified in 2019. (APB/BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
