SIMUNUL, Tawi-Tawi — A total of 150 Badjao families in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi now have access to permanent housing and essential community facilities, following the turnover of the Madinatul Badjao Complex by the Bangsamoro Government on June 24.
Located in Barangay Doh-Tong, the 150-unit housing complex was constructed under the Office of the Chief Minister’s Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPYANAN) Program, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) and the Ministry of Public Works (MPW).
Beyond providing shelter, the project also includes a mosque, school building, health station, access road, footbridge, and other support facilities aimed at fostering a more inclusive and resilient community for the Badjao, or Sama Dilaut, who are among the 13 recognized Moro ethno-linguistic groups in the Bangsamoro region.
The turnover ceremony was led by Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali. They were joined by members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, provincial and local officials, and representatives from BARMM ministries.
Chief Minister Macacua emphasized the significance of the project, stating that it is a concrete example of the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to Moral Governance.
“For me, this is not just a housing project. It is proof that Moral Governance brings positive impact—a home for our Badjao brothers and sisters, and a step toward a just and inclusive Bangsamoro,” he said.
Governor Sali expressed optimism for further development of the area, proposing the addition of a madrasah and a multipurpose court to support the community’s cultural and recreational needs.
The KAPYANAN Program is one of the flagship initiatives of the Office of the Chief Minister. It aims to uplift the lives of marginalized sectors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region by providing decent and dignified housing to the poorest of the poor, internally displaced persons, families of former combatants, Indigenous Peoples, and other vulnerable groups.
The Simunul turnover comes just days after a similar KAPYANAN project was inaugurated in Barangay Dahican, Mati City on June 21, where 100 housing units were distributed to Bangsamoro communities.