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War Victims Breath New Life in New Homes |
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Written by Leila A. Halud
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Friday, 03 October 2003 |
DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao – Armed conflict victims of this town and Pagalungan, Maguindanao are now all set to settle in their new home with the recently completed core shelter units realized through the collective efforts of the National and ARMM Offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and Commanding General of the 6th Infantry Division Generoso Senga signed Sunday the formal notice that the core shelter units are now ready for use.
The 54th and 55th Engineering Brigade in an agreement with the DSWD mobilized the community labor participation in constructing the said houses where, according to Soliman, 50 units in each of the said two municipalities were completed in more or less than 40 days.
The beneficiaries were finally awarded certificates of ownership during the turnover ceremony in this town’s Municipal Hall led by ARMM Governor Parouk Hussin along with DSWD National and Regional Secretaries Soliman and Bainon Karon, and new Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles.
Dubbed as the “Bangsamoro Pabahay” Project under the Mindanao National Initiative (Mindanao NATIN) comprehensive rehabilitation program, there were about 787 units and 360 units built in Montawal and Pagalungan respectively, where 2.5 million pesos has been allotted for each municipality. Under the plan, a total of 3,776 units are to be built in the 16 municipalities of Maguindanao.
Another 180 units in Sulu also await the deportees from Malaysia, 40 of which have already been completed in Anuling in Patikul, Sulu.
Governor Hussin thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her consistent support to ARMM who was also with him in the Province of Sulu last week.
“Just continue believing in our government, the government is doing its best to meet your basic needs and requirements especially under the present administration,” Governor Hussin told the war victims.
DSWD-ARMM Secretary Bainon Karon said that these homes signal a new day for the armed conflict-affected constituents where they can begin a new life with access to peace and stability.
She also reiterated her gratitude for the trust and confidence entrusted to them by the DSWD Central Office for it is the first time that the national office directly channel project fund to an ARMM department resulting to quick response to the needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the barangay level.
“Kami po sa national government ay naninindigan sa pagtitiwala sa kakayahan at katapatan ng ARMM Regional Government (We stand by our faith in the capability and sincerity of the ARMM Regional Government)”, Soliman reaffirmed.
“That is when real autonomy can be had, that is when justice can be served to our Muslim brothers and sisters here in Mindanao,” she added.
For her part, Bai Annie Montawal, Mayor of Datu Montawal, thanked the Autonomous Government and the national government as well for its relentless effort in responding to the needs of her constituency and the other IDPs in the neighboring municipalities.
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