“Walang makakapantay sa saya namin, kahit matagal kaming naghintay, totoo pala ang sinabi nilang magkakaroon kami ng bahay (Our happiness is immeasurable. Despite the wait, they made true to their promise to build us a home).”

Alawi Jamma Asid, 41, cannot contain his emotions as he looked around his new home located in a 3.5-hectare water area in Barangay Taluksangay, Zamboanga City.

Alawi lost his home during the 2013 Zamboanga siege. He, his wife, and their four kids stayed for over a year at the Taluksangay Transitory Site.

He added,  “Hindi ko akalain na magkakabahay ako ng ganito.  Doon sa Layag-Layag, kung makikita mo, luma ang bahay. Masaya naman kami doon, pero sigurado kong magiging mas masaya kami dito dahil mas ligtas dito (I didn’t expect to have a house like this.  In Layag-Layag, if you can see, our house is old. We were happy in Layag-Layag but we will be happier here because we are safer here).”

On February 26, Alawi’s family and 115 others received their new permanent houses on stilts, which were constructed by the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco led the turnover ceremony and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera was present to witness the event.

The housing project is part of the Zamboanga Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction of the government for areas affected by the siege.

To ensure that the beneficiaries have access to water and electricity services in their new homes, NHA will also provide them with P10,000 financial aid to be distributed by DSWD.

During the turnover, DSWD also gave out food packs, food and non-food items, and starter kits to the beneficiaries for them to start anew.

Alawi thanked all the agencies and organizations that assisted his family and the other families affected by the siege. ###