A new partnership among government agencies and the private sector is set to provide affordable housing and integrated community facilities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), supporting peace-building and development efforts in the region.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Philippine Community Housing Corporation (PCHC) formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Oct. 8 launching the Building Better Moro Homes: Integrated Housing and Community Development Initiative with Support for Camp Transformation in BARMM.

In a statement Friday, MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno described the initiative as the result of months of consultations and coordination among government agencies aimed at addressing the long-standing housing needs of communities in the Bangsamoro region.

“For decades, Mindanao has carried the weight of conflict, displacement, and unmet needs. Yet it has also carried the promise of peace, resilience, and renewal,” he said.

Under the partnership, MinDA will serve as the strategic convenor and facilitator, coordinating government and private sector stakeholders and linking national agencies with BARMM institutions.

DHSUD will provide policy guidance and technical standards, while the BARMM Ministry of Human Settlements and Development will support ground-level implementation.

PCHC, meanwhile, will help mobilize private sector investments and delivery mechanisms for the housing initiative.

Aside from housing units, the proposed communities will include essential facilities such as masjids, schools, madrasas, health centers, livelihood hubs, solar-powered energy systems and water and sanitation infrastructure.

Magno highlighted the significance of the initiative for families who have endured years of conflict and displacement.

He added that the signing reflects a shared commitment to translating peace gains into tangible improvements in the lives of Bangsamoro families through safe housing, stronger communities, and sustainable opportunities.

Magno said the project also stems from a series of meetings involving national government agencies, including the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, to support peace and normalization initiatives in BARMM.

“For families who have lived through decades of armed conflict, displacement, uncertainty, and hardship, having a safe and permanent home means stability. It means dignity,” Magno said. (PNA)