Habitat, DSWD join hands in ARMM low-cost housing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Margie MoranFloirendo, co-chair of Friends of Habitat, HFH Philippines’ social mobilization arm, right, with then Philippine senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Rick Hathaway, vice-president, Habitat for Humanity, Asia-Pacific, at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, co-organized by Habitat for Humanity International, in Manila in 2009

Habitat for Humanity Philippines, represented by Board Member Ms. Margie Moran Floirendo and Hon. Hadja Bainon G. Kairon, OIC Regional Vice-Governor for ARMM and Concurrent Regional Secretary, signed a Memorandum of Agreement on July 27, 2012 for the building of 900 homes and 922 day care centers in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Also at the signing were Eusoph G. Kani, DSWD ARMM Legal Officer, David Liban Jr., Disaster Response Manager of HFHP and Leonilo Escalada, CEO for HFHP.
The signing followed the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III on July 23 where he lauded the reforms implemented by ARMM OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman, especially on the housing and education reforms.
Leonilo Escalada, HFHP Chief Operating Officer said: “The home partner families living in Buluan, Mangudadatu and Pandag have experienced flooding through the years because of their housing location. We will be using stilt technology in the construction of the houses to prevent flooding in their homes.”
Site selection for the succeeding projects for housing and day care centers are still ongoing in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Basilan, Tawi tawi and Sulu, in partnership with the ARMM local governments and other regional offices.
Charlie Ayco, HFHP Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director said: “We, in Habitat walk hand in hand with National Government, DSWD and the ARMM government’s plan in alleviating housing poverty here in ARMM.
A total of 270 houses will be constructed in four sites in the abovementioned municipalities and are expected to be finished by the end of August 2012. Marilyn Roque