AdZU Islamic Housing Program breaks ground in Mampang
A
Housing project aligned with the customs, beliefs and practices of Muslims is
the latest breakthrough in the social development program of the Ateneo de
Zamboanga University (AdZU).
In
June 2016, AdZU’s Center for Community Extension Services (CCES) and Ateneo
Center for Leadership & Governance (ACLG) signed a Memorandum of Agreement
with the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), to partner in the
development of the culturally-sensitive housing program.
The
housing finance program, covering 16, 889 sq m in Mampang, will benefit 105
informal settler families (ISFs) of Binarao, Sta Catalina under the Multi
Tribal Home Owners Association Inc (MTHOAI).
A
ground-breaking ceremony was held last month with the Unveiling of the Marker
and Planting of the Tree of Life led by Ma Ana R Oliveros, SHFC president, together
with Dr Rebecca Fernandez, AdZU academic vice-president, representing AdZU
president Fr Karel San Juan, SJ and Said S Amil Jr., MTHOAI president.
National and LGUs, NGOs, and academic institutions witness the Unveiling of the Marker and Planting of the Tree of Life that kicked off the Check/Letter of Guaranty Awarding ceremonies of the Housing project last February 17, 2017 in Mampang, Zamboanga City
Also
present during the rites were representatives from various non-government
organizations, the academe and local government units, including Datu Mussolini
S Lidasan, executive director of Al-Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and
Dialogue in Southeast Asia; Atty Ferdinand C Iman, chief of operations-Mindanao,
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor; Councilor Josephine Pareja, Chairperson
of the Committee on Urban Poor and POs and NGOs; Ma Socorro A Rojas, City Social
Welfare and Development (OCSWD) Officer; and Kagawad Erico Rivera of Barangay Mampang.
Dr Rebecca Fernandez, AdZU academic vice president, delivers her message, in behalf of AdZU president Fr Karel San Juan, SJ.
Through
SHFC’s flagship program, the Community
Mortgage Program (CMP), a loan was
acquired following a usufruct agreement which obliges SHFC to purchase the land
in behalf of MTHOAI. MTHOAI, in return, is expected to pay monthly amortization
to SHFC in two years’ time.
Loreta R Sta Teresa (extreme left), AdZU-CCES director details the Housing project during the Check/Letter of Guaranty Awarding ceremonies.
The
housing project, considered a major development in housing for CMP, modified some
guidelines to align to the traditions and way of living of Muslims, such as the
use of the term, “interest” or “riba,”
which is considered as forbidden or “haram”
in Islam. It has three phases: first, land acquisition, followed by site
development, and finally, house construction.
Other
partners in the housing program include Ateneo de Davao University – Al Qalam
Institute and Engineering Department, ZAMPEN Urban Poor Alliance, Inc., and LGU
– Zamboanga.
Photo shows the
Sharia’h compliant model house of the community, designed by AdDU–Engineering
Department with inputs from MTHOAI.
SHFC is a government agency mandated to serve homeless
Filipinos around the country through flexible, affordable, innovative and
responsive community-driven social housing programs for ISFs. CMP is tasked
with organizing ISFs and facilitating acquisition of the land they occupy or choosing
their relocation site, in order to create sustainable communities.
