MANILA, Philippines — The national government, through the National Housing Authority (NHA), will construct houses for some 390 families in Sulu including Muslim Filipinos recently deported from Sabah, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said Saturday.

Binay, who is the concurrent Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairman, said the Bangsa Moro Pabahay Project is a joint undertaking among the NHA, the Department of Social and Welfare and Development (DSWD)-National and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and the provincial government of Sulu.

“The national government and the local government of Sulu have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide decent, affordable housing units to our Muslim kababayans,” Binay said.

“We want to ensure they will have a home they could call their own. We hope this would encourage them to stay here and not risk going to other countries by illegal means,” he added.

The DSWD–ARMM and the provincial government of Sulu chose the 74,364.15 square meters housing site from the 25-hectare NHA property in Barangay Anuling, Patikul, Sulu.

Around 46,991.25 square meters was initially allocated for the project, but it was increased following an Oct. 10, 2011 memorandum request to NHA General Manager Atty. Chito M. Cruz for an additional 110-lot allocation for flash flood victims in Jolo.

The DSWD released some P4.5 million for the construction of 180 core shelter units for the family-beneficiaries in Sulu, and 100 units for those living in flood prone and danger areas.

The project will also provide 110 serviced lots for flood victims.

Cruz, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan and other NHA–Mindanao project managers and officers attended the MOA signing.

The Bangsa Moro Pabahay Project is part of the commitment of the Aquino administration to address the housing needs of Filipinos in Mindanao, Binay said.