The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), alongside the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) has provided 100 housing units to profiled Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday, August 7.
The homes were built in Barangay Taguisian, Mabuhay, under the DSWD’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) program through its Modified Shelter Assistance Project (MSAP), in collaboration with OPAPRU.
“Sa bawat tahanang naipapatayo, sa bawat komunidad na muling nabubuo, at sa bawat dating rebelde at combatant na buong puso nating tinatanggap—pagtupad ito sa pangako naming hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Pangakong may tunay na pag-unawa at malasakit sa pinagdadaanan ng bawat isa,” DSWD Secretary Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian said, as relayed by Peace and Development Group (PDG) Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay, who led the turnover ceremony.
The former combatants also took part in building their homes through the project’s cash-for-work (CFW) component, which aimed to encourage a sense of ownership and community among them. Each beneficiary worked at the construction site for 30 days, earning ₱351 daily.
“Sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., nais nating iparating sa mga kababayan natin na ang inyong gobyerno, hindi lang basta-basta naghahatid ng mga proyekto, pinapanday rin ito ng mismong mga kamay ng ating mamamayan,” Gatchalian added.
Road gravelling, site development, drainage, electricity, and water system installation, was provided for by the local government in Mabuhay.
It is the PAMANA-MSAP’s mission to provide livable homes for armed conflict victims and residents in conflict-vulnerable and affected areas.
