BARMM’s Bahay Pag-Asa nears completion

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Ministry of Public Works in Lamitan City is now ready to accept the delivery of an estimated P5 million worth of furniture, fixtures and equipment by its supplier to complete the construction of the "first" Bahay Pag-Asa in BARMM.

MPW Basilan District Engineer Kasim A. Hasanin on Sunday said that the P45-million male and female Bahay Pag-Asa buildings located in Barangay Sta. Clara in Lamitan City are both 95 percent completed.

"What we are waiting for is just the delivery and installation of FF&E by the supplier to make it 100 percent completed," said Hasanin, as he explained that the FF&E refers to all movable or easily removed objects in a building but not including sellable products.

"When constructing a new build, the furniture and other subsidiary items will often be separated into their tender package, otherwise known as the Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment package," he added.

Among the FF&E the MPW Basilan Engineering Office is waiting for are room air condition units, dining tables, coolers, freezers, refrigerators, furniture and wall decors.

"The installation of FF&E will not take much time and we hope to turn over the newly constructed facility to the Ministry of Social Services and Development under Minister Raissa Jajurie next month," Hasanin said.

He stressed that the FF&E is needed to make it conducive to the children living in the Bahay Pag-Asa and to be presentable to visitors.

According to Hasanin, both dormitories are funded under the Transitional Development Impact Fund of Member of Parliament and Minority Floor Leader Atty. Laisa Masuhud-Alamia and MPW have been identified as the lead implementer of the project.

For her part, Jajurie said that Bahay Pag-Asa will soon become the home of street children or abandoned children and for those nowhere to stay, living alone in life or no more parents.

The MSSD is tasked to ensure that their rights to survival, development, protection and participation are guaranteed and safeguarded.

Jajurie explained that one of the biggest responsibilities of BARMM is to ensure that these children will grow up with the support they need to draw strength and find hope around them constantly.

Bahay Pag-Asa is a pilot project of the Intergovernmental Partnership in Strengthening Juvenile Justice and Welfare in the Bangsamoro region.