LAMITAN CITY, Basilan – Sixty-nine families in Lamitan City now have a place to call home, thanks to the Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPYANAN) housing project spearheaded by the Office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. The turnover ceremony, held on February 26, marked another milestone in the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to providing safe and dignified housing for its people.
The newly built homes were awarded to families who had been displaced due to fire, floods, and road expansions, as well as indigent families identified as the poorest of the poor. The beneficiaries came from various barangays: Ubit in Sitio Panansangan (10 units), Sengal in Sitio Baroy (7), Lumuton (20), Lo-ok (4), Boheyakan (8), and Bulingan (20).
For many recipients, these homes symbolize hope and a fresh start. Oligaria Francisco, a 78-year-old beneficiary from Barangay Bulingan, expressed her deep gratitude for the assistance provided by the BARMM government. Similarly, Angeline Flores from Barangay Boheyakan acknowledged the significance of the housing project in improving their living conditions.
Barangay Chairman Joselito Alfaro of Bulingan emphasized his community’s support for BARMM and its initiatives. He underscored the importance of unity among residents of Basilan in supporting the Bangsamoro government and its development programs.
Engr. Anwarodin Tumagantang, Head of the Engineering Unit of KAPYANAN, detailed the features of the housing units, which include three bedrooms, a dining area, a kitchen, a solar-powered lighting system, and a water system. He also noted that the project was implemented through a memorandum of agreement with the Lamitan City local government.
“This is part of the Chief Minister’s commitment to reaching the people of Bangsamoro through meaningful programs. A few months ago, we turned over 159 housing units, and today, we are adding 69 more,” Tumagantang stated.
Lamitan City Mayor Oric Furigay acknowledged the role of BARMM leaders in securing the housing project and expressed appreciation for their continued support. He also made a call for additional housing projects, aiming to reach a total of 1,000 units for the city.
“We currently have 380 units plus 120 under the Ministry of Public Works, but we need 500 more to reach our goal. I urge our barangay chairmen to actively participate so we can provide a better future for our constituents,” Furigay said.
He concluded with a Yakan proverb: “Pasong pe bang sumu, labi pe bang sumudde”—which translates to “More tomorrow, how much more the day after tomorrow.”