The United Nations Habitat Philippines (UN-Habitat) and the Surigao City government opened Tuesday the city’s first model housing unit for the Sama-Badjau residents.

The model housing unit, a quadruplex that could accommodate four families, was opened and turned over to the recipient Sama-Badjau families.

UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales and Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II handed over the certificate of ownership of the first housing unit to the Sama-Badjau community in Sitio Panubigon, Barangay Lipata, represented by chieftain Dahila Araman.

Launched on March 21, the Huy-anan nan Bajau sa Surigao Project (Bajau Housing Project) has USD300,000 (about PHP 17 million) in total funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development (USD250,000) and the UN-Habitat (USD50,000).

The first phase of the project, which targets the first 20 Badjau families, is scheduled for completion by May 2025.

“This project signifies the support of the city government for inclusive growth, sustainable development and the development for all residents in Surigao City,” Dumlao said.

More Badjau families are expected to benefit from the implementation of the project’s second phase, he added.

Araman acknowledged international donors and the city government for giving attention to the housing needs of Badjau residents.

“With the realization of this project, homeless Badjaus in the city can now have homes they can consider as their own,” he said. (PNA)