Surigao City – October 8, 2024 – The United Nations Habitat Philippines (UN-Habitat) and the Surigao City government inaugurated the city’s first model housing unit for the Sama-Badjao tribe, a marginalized and often displaced community. This marks a significant step towards providing sustainable housing solutions for the Sama-Badjao, a nomadic sea-faring group traditionally residing in coastal areas.
The model housing unit, a quadruplex designed to accommodate four families, was formally handed over to the recipient Sama-Badjao families during a ceremony held in Sitio Panubigon, Barangay Lipata. Present during the event were UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales and Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II, who presented the certificate of ownership to Dahila Araman, chieftain of the Sama-Badjao community.
This initiative is part of the “Huy-anan nan Bajau sa Surigao Project” (Bajau Housing Project), which was launched on March 21, 2024. The project has a total funding of USD 300,000 (about PHP 17 million), with contributions from the Spanish Agency for International Development (USD 250,000) and UN-Habitat (USD 50,000). The first phase, aimed at benefiting 20 Sama-Badjao families, is expected to be completed by May 2025.
Mayor Dumlao emphasized that this housing project is part of the city government’s broader commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development, ensuring that all residents, including the Sama-Badjao, are provided opportunities for improved living conditions. “This project signifies the support of the city government for inclusive growth, sustainable development, and the well-being of all residents in Surigao City,” Dumlao said.
The Sama-Badjao, known as “sea gypsies,” have faced centuries of displacement due to both natural and man-made factors, including conflict and environmental degradation. Traditionally relying on fishing and sea-related livelihoods, they have often been marginalized, lacking access to basic services such as housing, education, and healthcare. The Huy-anan nan Bajau sa Surigao Project represents an effort to provide them with a stable home, helping to preserve their cultural identity while integrating them into the wider community.
The housing units are designed to be both culturally sensitive and resilient, taking into consideration the unique lifestyle of the Sama-Badjao. The development also includes provisions for livelihood programs aimed at supporting the community’s economic needs and ensuring their long-term stability.
Chieftain Araman expressed her gratitude to the international donors and the local government for their dedication to addressing the housing needs of the Sama-Badjao. “With the realization of this project, homeless Badjaus in the city can now have homes they can consider as their own,” Araman said. She also highlighted the importance of the initiative in giving the Sama-Badjao a sense of belonging and security, which many in the community have historically lacked.
The second phase of the project, expected to roll out after the completion of the initial units, will provide housing for additional Sama-Badjao families, further addressing the critical housing shortage among the community. The project is seen not only as a shelter program but also as a holistic approach to uplift the Sama-Badjao through livelihood support, education, and social integration.
The housing initiative for the Sama-Badjao aligns with the city’s broader goals of creating an inclusive urban environment, where every citizen, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to live in dignity and security.
