A total of 300 housing units were officially turned over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday (August 30) to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) former combatants and their families in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

During the turn over ceremony led by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with Undersecretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (ISPSC) Alan Tanjusay and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., 200 indigenous peoples of the Sama, Kalibugan and Subanen indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) received their certificates of ownership in the municipality of Sibuco.

“Bahagi ito ng programa ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na masigurado natin na yung pinaka bulnerable nating komunidad—yung mga indigenous peoples (IPs), mga dati nating combatants—ay siguradong mare-reintegrate nang maayos sa ating lipunan,” Secretary Gatchalian told the beneficiaries of the housing units.

An additional 75 housing units funded by the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program – Modified Shelter Assistance Project (MSAP) will also be built in the municipality of Sibuco through the initiative of the local government unit (LGU).

“Nag-usap nga kami ni Sibuco Mayor Joel Ventura at Secretary Galvez na babalik ang DSWD para masigurado naman yung Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) kasi hindi naman sasapat ang bahay, kailangan may makakain din,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Secretary Gatchalian has assured the MSAP beneficiaries that the DSWD will provide livelihood assistance for them to ensure that they can sustain their well-being.

The MSAP is a program jointly-implemented by the DSWD and OPAPRU that provides limited financial or material assistance to augment resources of families in constructing houses in relocation sites.

The completion of the MSAP units, according to the DSWD chief, was a result of the collaborative efforts of the local government unit (LGU), OPAPRU, and DSWD.

“Ang proyektong ito ay naging makabuluhan at naging posible dahil sa pagitan ni Mayor Ventura, sya yung nag-counterpart… actually three-way partnership ito—yung tanggapan nila Secretary Galvez, OPAPRU; DSWD; at yung lokal na pamahalaan. Hindi natin mapagkakaila na importante gampanin ng ating lokal na pamahalaan kasi sila ang nandito, sila ang nakakakilala ng kanila mga residente, at sila rin yung sisigurado na ma-sustain natin yung ganitong pamumuhay,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

Prior to the August 30 turnover, a total of 100 completed MSAP units were also turned over last August 29 to the community members of the MNLF former combatants and their families in Barangay Caparan in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

In Mabuhay Island, ISPSC Undersecretary Tanjusay handed over cheques amounting to Php40 million to another group of MNLF former combatants who organized themselves as neighborhood associations to jumpstart the construction of 100 MSAP housing units with cash-for-work in a parcel of land donated by the LGU of Ipil.

From 2017 to 2023, the PAMANA MSAP has delivered 1,160 housing units in Regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and 11 (Davao Region), with a total grant of Php247.2 million and a CFW component of Php10.3 million. #

Tagalog Version

300 housing units ipinamahagi ng DSWD sa mga dating MNLF combatants sa ZamboPen

Pormal ng naipamahagi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang 300 housing units sa mga dating myembro ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at pamilya nito sa Zamboanga del Norte at Zamboanga Sibugay.

Sa ginanap na turn over ceremony na pinangunahan ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, kasama sina Undersecretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (ISPSC) Alan Tanjusay at Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., tinanggap ng 200 indigenous peoples ng Sama, Kalibugan at Subanen indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) ang kanilang certificates of ownership sa munisipalidad ng Sibuco.

“Bahagi ito ng programa ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na masigurado natin na yung pinaka bulnerable nating komunidad—yung mga indigenous peoples (IPs), mga dati nating combatants—ay siguradong mare-reintegrate nang maayos sa ating lipunan,” sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Dagdag na 75 housing units naman na pinondohan ng PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program – Modified Shelter Assistance Project (MSAP) ang inaasahang itatayo sa munisipalidad ng Sibuco batay na rin sa inisyatibo ng local government unit (LGU).

“Nag-usap nga kami ni Sibuco Mayor Joel Ventura at Secretary Galvez na babalik ang DSWD para masigurado naman yung Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) kasi hindi naman sasapat ang bahay, kailangan may makakain din,” dagdag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Samantala, tiniyak na rin ni Secretary Gatchalian sa mga MSAP beneficiaries na magbibigay ng tulong pangkabuhayan ang ahensya upang makaagapay sa kanilang pang araw-araw na pangangailangan.

Ang MSAP ay isa sa programa ng DSWD na ini-implement katuwang ng OPAPRU.

“Ang proyektong ito ay naging makabuluhan at naging posible dahil sa pagitan ni Mayor Ventura, sya yung nag-counterpart… actually three-way partnership ito—yung tanggapan nila Secretary Galvez, OPAPRU; DSWD; at yung lokal na pamahalaan. Hindi natin mapagkakaila na importante gampanin ng ating lokal na pamahalaan kasi sila ang nandito, sila ang nakakakilala ng kanila mga residente, at sila rin yung sisigurado na ma-sustain natin yung ganitong pamumuhay,” paliwanag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Nauna rito, mayroon ng 100 completed MSAP units ang naipamahagi sa mga community members ng MNLF former combatants sa Barangay Caparan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Samantala, sa Mabuhay Island, ibinigay ni ISPSC Undersecretary Tanjusay ang tseke na may halagang Php40 million sa isa pang grupo ng MNLF former combatants upang masimulan naman ang 100 MSAP housing units.

Mula 2017 hanggang 2023, ang PAMANA MSAP ay nakapagbigay na ng 1,160 housing units sa Regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) at 11 (Davao Region) at may kabuuang tulong na Php247.2 million at CFW component na Php10.3 million. #