IDPs finally find home

MAASIM, Sarangani (April 4, 2011) – Previously internally displaced families, mostly marginalized fisher folk, availed of new homes at the MJ Village shelter assistance project of the government.

Hermelo Latoja, provincial social welfare and development officer, said the 236 families are considered internally displaced persons (IDPs) having been visited by flashfloods during the past years and evicted by the court from a private property.

MJ village at the foot of a hill in Kabatiol is a joint project by the Department of Social Welfare and Development with P5-million assistance for house construction, the municipal government with the 5.3-hectare lot worth P2-million, and P1.5- million site development fund from the provincial government.

At the turn-over ceremony Monday (April 4), qualified recipients thanked local officials for the project. There are 30 among the first 112 recipients who qualified for the stewardship project after completing the 90 working days requirement.

“We are happy today that at last our dream to have a house came true,” village association president Artemio Cabreros said. Cabreros hoped to have more assistance from the government for his family and the other IDPs.

But Governor Migs Dominguez reminded them to do their share and become more responsible in order to avail of more assistance from the government. The housing project must have been finished after a year since March last year. Of the first 112 houses, there are now 73 units ready for occupancy, according to Cabreros.

“The Governor just wanted to make sure that you are safe and protected while we in the national government are always ready to help,” DSWD assistant regional director Gemma Rivera said.

“There are other resettlement projects throughout the province and your cooperation is needed to finish this project (here),” municipal councilor Romeo Belocura said.

A project management team looks over the project to hasten its completion before the end of May.

The provincial and municipal government units have resettlement projects in Eco Ville, Maitum town; Juanicoville in Malapatan; and Springville in Alabel in partnership with DSWD, Gawad Kalinga, and Habitat for Humanity that provided houses to hundreds of fisher folk previously living in flashflood prone areas. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)