Homeless families in Datu Blah Sinsuat (DBS), one of the 12 municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte of the BARMM, will soon be provided with decent housing units through a project implemented by the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM.

This is after Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra led the contract signing with the winning bidder Framecon/JCL 86 Builders Inc., on January 12, 2023 for the Housing Development Project in Kyonggod Sambolawan, Brgy. Laguitan.

The signing was held at the Conference Room in the MHSD Regional Office, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.

The project will construct 50 housing units, each to be 1-storey with a 49 square-meter floor area, separated into two bedrooms, one comfort room, living area, porch, kitchen and dining area. It also includes the construction of a one-unit solar powered water system, level II, with a 3.30m x 3.30m x 3.30m concrete water tank and 9 tap stands.

Minister Barra opened the program sharing his joy to have contractors willing to serve the Bangsamoro.

“We always emphasize during contract signing that, first and foremost, the Bangsamoro government is a product of struggle. The term Bangsamoro, when you hear it, three things must come to mind: identity, government, and territory,” he said, differentiating each part of the Bangsamoro in detail. He ended his speech with a reminder that every project will be done through contracts as required by the Qur’an to have agreements in writing, essentially quoting Surah Al’ Baqara.

He emphasized the need for witnesses when signing such contracts, and the requirement to conform to mandated tasks.

“This is a duty not only to the Bangsamoro Government, the MHSD and the people who will benefit from the project, but most significantly with Allah SWT. We are also accountable to the Filipino people and the Philippine Government,” he added.

Bangsamoro Director General (BDG) Esmael W. Ebrahim shared discussion held with DBS Hon. Mayor Datu Marshall I. Sinsuat yesterday who committed to help in ensuring the success of the project, as DBS is one of the municipalities struck by tropical storm Paeng.

BDG Ebrahim reflected on personally witnessing the aftermath of the devastated municipality, then shared his motivation with the contractors for the project, and advised to closely coordinate with field officers and the current residents of the project area.

Anshary C. Lomodag, Jr., JCL 86 Builders Inc. President, shared high motivation to deliver their services to the Bangsamoro, enumerating multiple projects already accomplished by their company in other regions of the country as examples.

“We are 100% Bangsamoro, and it has always been our dream to come home to serve the Bangsamoro,” Lomodag said.

Salem C. Demuna, REA, Director II for Operations and Management Services, welcomed everyone to the ceremony thanking Allah SWT and the Bangsamoro Government for the opportunity to serve the Bangsamoro Ummah.

Also witnessing the contract signing was the other members of the MHSD Bids and Awards Committee, and the MHSD Maguindanao Provincial Office, led by its Director Noroden S. Abdullah, RF.