DSWD releases P175M for housing, day-care centers

By Perlita D. Changco

Saturday 14th of July 2012

COTABATO CITY, July 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) has released P175 million to Habitat for Humanity for the regional government's socio-economic development efforts..

DSWD-ARMM Regional Secretary Bainon Karon, together with Assistant Secretary Pombaen Kader, turned over the amount from the Stimulus Fund for the implementation of the following programs: modified shelter assistance (MSA) for the construction of 1,000 housing units for displaced families; and 1,100 Day Care Construction Project (DCC) to be undertaken in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Beneficiaries of the MSA are displaced families in conflict-affected areas in Maguindanao with 699 housing units; Sulu, 200; and Basilan, 101. Each unit will cost of P100,000 each.

On the other hand, the construction of the targeted 1,100 units of day care centers is distributed to ARMM’s five provinces broken down as follows: Maguindanao, 620, Basilan,60, Lanao del Sur A, 75; Lanao del Sur B, 75; Sulu-70; Tawi-Tawi, 175 and Marawi City, 25.

Cost for each center range from P617,000 to P670,000. Estimated cost, however, is higher on the island provinces due to overhead outlay.

Recipients of the ongoing construction of day care center in Maguindanao include the towns of Parang, Datu Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Northern Kabuntalan, Mother Kabuntalan, Talitay, Datu Piang and Guindulungan.

The DSWD progress report on the structural construction of the MSAs and DCCs reveal that as of June 31, 2012, 178 cay care centers had been partly accomplished in the region.In Maguindanao, 43 out of the 140 ongoing construction have been completed.while 25 units have been done in Basilan out of 38 through the support of the 52nd and 55th Engineering Brigade of AFP’s National Development Support Command (Nadescom). (pbchangco/PIA Cotabato City/BPI-ARMM)