Another Housing Development Project will soon be implemented in the town of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte (MDN) particularly in Purok Panay, Brgy. Sarmiento after the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM, officially signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Local Government Unit (LGU).

Led by Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra and Hon. Mayor Cahar P. Ibay, the signing took place at the Conference Room of the MHSD Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City today, April 23, 2024.

Minister Barra opened the program by quoting Surah Al-Hajj during his opening message, summarizing the verses into a reminder that whoever is given authority of the land, he should work out where the prayer is to be performed, which gives importance to spirituality, how charity is regulated, which ensures the community’s financial development and management, and enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil.

“We find these characteristics or elements of leadership in Parang, which is why the municipality is running to develop from a municipality into a city,” Minister Barra pronounced.

The project, amounting to PHP 43.7 million, is funded under the Special Development Fund 2022, said Bangsamoro Director General (BDG) Esmael W. Ebrahim, after he greeted everyone a belated Eid’l Fitri Mubarak in his welcome remarks. 

“We are very confident that the project will be implemented well as the town of Parang is the most advanced in Maguindanao, which is a reflection of its leadership,” BDG Ebrahim added.

Noroden S. Abdullah, RF, Provincial Director (PD) of MHSD-Maguindanao committed to monitor the project every step of the way to ensure its compliance to the terms and conditions of the agreement, which entails working closely with the LGU through the field engineers.

“We do this not just for the pleasure of Chief Minister Ahob B. Ebrahim who entrusted us with this responsibility, but for the pleasure of the Bangsamoro whom we serve,” PD Abdullah said.

Mayor Ibay recalled the previous signing of Memorandum of Agreement held at the same venue in February this year, which already had its groundbreaking in Sitio Malingao, Brgy. Nituan for the construction of 50 housing units just last month funded under the General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) 2024

“These housing projects help lower the poverty index of the Municipality; they are solid indicators of development thus helping in further developing the communities,” Mayor Ibay said, enumerating the domino effect and benefits of housing the needy people will have across the municipality and emphasizing the importance of everyone’s cooperation in attaining it.

Guiamal “Ting” Campong Abdulrahman, Provincial Board Member of Maguindanao del Norte, personally witnessed the momentous occasion, lauding the project for being an economic booster to the Municipality.

The project will implement the construction of a community entrance archway, solar powered water system level III and 50 housing units, each having three bedrooms, living-dining area, porch at the entrance and service area at the back, and comfort room as presented by Engr. Zainodin A. Buisan, Chief of Planning and Design Division.

Chief Buisan also said that proposals have been prepared for 2025 for the installation of solar powered water systems to all of the MHSD’s implemented housing projects and will be a staple in future housing projects as well. “We are hoping that all our proposals in 2025 will be approved in shaa Allah”, he remarked.

Hamzah A. Salik, PD of the MHSD-Special Geographic Area, formally closed the program the way it was opened, quoting a verse from the holy Qur’an, specifically Surah Ibrahim, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”

PD Salik then concluded the program quoting significant parts of the dua’ (prayer) of Prophet Ibrahim A.S. for Makkah before it became an established city “My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day.”

Using this as a guide after emphasizing that peace and security is pre-requisite to sustainable development, Parang, having established such, will have its path to becoming a city easier in the coming days.