MARAWI CITY, Feb 26 (PIA)--Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of this city expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Japan for providing funds for the construction of permanent shelters.

Implemented by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), 109 displaced families received conditional award certificates for permanent houses. Dubbed Hadiya (Arabic word means gift) Village, the housing site is located in a 1.8-hectare land area acquired and developed by Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) in Barangay Dulay West.

On behalf of the homeowners in Hadiya Village, Adnan Amerol thanked the agencies for the commitment to rebuilding their lives through the housing units.

"Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon [ I thank God], sa bumubuo ng Task Force Bangon Marawi, local government of Marawi, Marawi Sultanate League, UN Habitat at Japan government," said Amerol.

Amerol added that they wholeheartedly receive the assistance, which they considered as a gift to them.

"Ang regalo na ito ay taos-puso namin tinatanggap.Pinapangako namin at makakaasa kayo na ito ay amin pangangalagaan, papalaguin at ipapamana namin sa aming mga anak," said Amerol.

[We sincerely accept this gift. We promise, and you can count on us that we will take good care of this, will nurture and will entrust this to our children," said Amerol.

Potri Ampuan, a mother of 13, shared her excitement when she first knew that UN-Habitat would relocate them to the permanent housing project. She said that she planted various plants around her house. Her four unmarried children helped her in beautifying their home.

"Noong nakataransfer kami dito, nasiyahan kami talaga dahil may bahay na akong sarili. Maraming salamat sa UN-Habitat at sa Japan," shared Ampuan.

[We were delighted when we transferred here because we finally have our own home. Thank you to UN-Habitat and Japan.]

Jamera Gunting also expressed her gratitude for the housing project. She also shared that they plan to put up a computer shop or a sari-sari store for their livelihood.

"Maraming-maraming salamat sa UN-Habitat at sa Japan dahil sa binigay na pabahay na sobrang ganda," said Gunting.

[We are thankful to UN-Habitat and Japan government for the beautiful housing provided to us.]

Amerol and Gunting also encouraged their neighbors to unite and help one another in their community.

"Tayo ay magkaisa, magtulungan, magrespetuhan. Panatilihin natin ang connection natin sa mahal na Allah dahil hindi sa lahat ng panahon sa ating buhay ay mabibiyayaan tayo ng isang importante regalo o Hadiya," said Amerol.

[We should unite, help and respect one another. Let us sustain our connection with our beloved God because not all the time in our lives we will be blessed with a meaningful gift.]

This new relocation site hosts families from the barangays Saduc Proper, Raya Saduc, South Madaya, Dagubduban, West Marinaut and Datu Naga. These families, who are the project's home-partners, are organized into Homeowners Associations. Funds from Japan were also given to them to start their livelihood. (LELA/PIA ICIC)