With the resolution of the confounding issue on land and other challenges, the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM, has finally conducted the groundbreaking ceremony to lay the strong foundation for 200 resettlement housing units with land development and site development works in Barangay Malimono, Marawi City under Marawi Rehabilitation Program (MRP) on January 14, 2024.

The project is expected to be completed in 450 calendar days and is funded under the Bangsamoro Appropriations Act (BAA) from the Office of the BARMM Chief Minister, and is expected to help some of the awaiting victims of the five-month long Marawi Siege that started in May 2017, in their recovery and continued development.

Minister Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra of the MHSD expressed his gratitude to the officials and representatives who graced the event and shared some of the challenges the Ministry needed to address to start the project.

“The implementation of the project was delayed because we needed to resolve first the issue on the acquired land’s adverse claimants and we are thankful that we were able to do so as this is our support to the Bangsamoro government through the leadership of our Chief Minister,” he said.

The minister also said that the MHSD’s support to the IDPs and other needy families and individuals in the province will continue and that aside from the resettlement housing program, they have started exploring and facilitating the possible implementation of social housing program with the Pag-IBIG Fund with initial meetings in Matling, Malabang and in Marawi City.

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

Meanwhile, Member of the Parliament (MP) Said M. Shiek, the MRP Program Manager, reminded the group of the essence of ‘Moral Governance’ in the implementation of the project.

“Moral Governance is the initiative of the chief minister and we have to ensure the most proper and effective implementation of this project in accordance with the advocacy of the BARMM government and we will not progress if we will not be united with ‘qalbun saleem’ (clean and sound heart),” he stated.

Anshari C. Lomodag, Jr., the proprietor of JCL 86 Builders, Inc., in his commitment message, introduced the primary members of their team with BRIMA Construction and he said they will serve as the contractors of the project and they are to further promote accountability by completing the project the soonest possible time.

Concluding the program was MHSD Director General Esmael W. Ebrahim with his expression of support to Minister Barra and the huge trust of the chief minister to the implementers.

“Our minister is the one thinking and trying his best to ensure that projects like this is properly planned and implemented; let us do our responsibility with sincerity for the success of this project in this life and the hereafter,” he remarked. 

The activity was also graced by officials and representatives from the Office of Minister Barra, Office of the MRP Program Manager MP Shiek, Office of MP Marjanie S. Mimbantas Macasalong, Office of Board Member Fahad M. Arimao, LGU-Marawi City and Malimono, other significant guests and witnesses, and from the Office of the MHSD-Lanao del Sur Provincial Director Benjamin D. Alangca, who organized and facilitated the groundbreaking ceremony.