In a significant step towards peace and development, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for a new housing and resettlement project in Camp Abubakar, located in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte. The event, held on December 19, 2024, was attended by OPAPRU chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Governor Abdulraof Macacua of Maguindanao del Norte, along with other local officials.
Secretary Galvez expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The day that we have all been waiting for has finally come,” highlighting the importance of the project for its future residents. The initiative is designed to support decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and their families, offering them a new beginning under the OPAPRU’s “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (PAMANA) Program.
Governor Macacua emphasized the broader implications of the project, saying, “As we gather here for the groundbreaking ceremony of the housing and resettlement project…we are not merely laying the foundation for homes. We are cementing our commitment to a brighter future for our people.”
This housing project is a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), and the municipal government of Barira. It forms a crucial part of the Camps Transformation Plan (CTP), which seeks to convert six former MILF camps into thriving, peaceful, and resilient communities.