Wednesday, April 23, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
THE Philippine Marines and Sulu Provincial Government have joined forces in providing shelters for the poor Badjao families in the province.
The marines have just completed the construction of 50 bamboo houses for Badjao families in the village of Tandu Bato, Luuk municipality. The funding came from the Provincial Government.
Brigadier General Cesario Atienza, chief of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said the project, dubbed as Operation Kandili, aims to preserve the unique culture of the tribe by providing homes for the Badjaos.
The houses on stilts are located along the shore, which are the typical locations of the tribe.
Atienza said they will constructs at least 50 more houses in Luuk with the funding from the provincial government headed by Governor Sakur Tan.
He said they have also completed the construction of a basketball court.
Tan has inspected the projects and promised to release more funding for development programs, he said.
Atienza said the governor has announced that more development projects are underway in Sulu. (Bong Garcia)
