KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- In partnership with local government units, the  National Housing Authority in SOCCSKSARGEN Region (NHA-12) has completed construction of 3,095 housing units  for informal settler families (ISF) and indigenous peoples (IP) communities in 21 housing projects across the region from 2016 to 2020, an official of the agency said. 

Engr. Zenaida Cabiles, NHA regional manager, said these  housing projects that amount to more than P262 million were implemented under NHA's  Resettlement Assistance Program to LGU (RAP-LGU).

"RAP-LGU  is geared towards providing technical and financial assistance to the LGUs in the development of their housing sites for ISFs requiring relocation and settlement," Engr. Cabiles said during the Performing and Informing Program of the Philippine Information Agency 12 and Information Coordinating Network (ICON) 12 Wednesday. 

"We also provide the same assistance to our IPs in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and LGUs  in the development of their housing sites in  ancestral domains or in lands owned by the LGUs and identified and acceptable to the concerned IP's economic, social, and cultural well-being." 

Under RAP-LGU for ISFs, all municipalities and fifth and sixth class cities and provinces may be given a non-recoverable grant of up to P25 million per project.  

Meanwhile, first to fourth class cities and provinces may be provided P50 million per project in a half-grant, half-loan scheme, where LGUs are required to repay 50 percent of the project in 14 years. 

Meanwhile, under RAP-LGU for IPs, NHA provides P20 million grant to LGUs, regardless of class, for implementation of housing projects in indigenous cultural communities. 

"IP housing projects  are our response to Executive Order No. 70. We provide housing assistance for IP communities identified as vulnerable areas and NTF-ELCAC priority barangays," she said. 

Of the 3,095 housing units built under RAP-LGU,  1,745 were  intended for informal settler families. 

Housing projects and number of units completed under RAP-LGU for ISFs include:  Springhills Resettlement in Spring, Alabel (302 units); Calean Resettlement Project Phase II in Calean, Tacurong City (128); Juanico Ville Resettlement Project in Purok Diamalod, Lun Padidu, Malapatan (478); Upper Glad II Resettlement Project Phase 1 in Upper Glad II, Midsayap (152); Sudapin Resettlement Project in Sudapin, Kidapawan City (322); Banga Resettlement in Benitez, Banga (100); Upper Glad II Resettlement Project Phase 2 in Upper Glad II, Midsayap (163); and Kasadya (Surallah) Village Project in Dajay, Surallah (100). 

Under the RAP-LGU for IPs, NHA and partner LGUs  constructed 1,350 housing units in 17 housing projects now enjoyed by beneficiary IP families. 

IP housing projects and number of housing units completed from 2016 to 2021 are Tbong  Highlanders' Village in Sitio Tbong, Takunel, Lake Sebu (100); Tukeh Benlay Village in Batian, Maitum (100); Ugis Village IP Housing in Sitio Ugis, Marguez, Esperanza (100); Balangas Community IP Housing in Purok 6, Balangas, Makilala (50); Datu Sandigan Village 1 in Batu-Bato, President Roxas (50); Datu Sandigan Village 2 in Datu Sundungan, President Roxas (50); Umpan Village in Sitio Mook, Balabag, Kidapawan City (50); New Esperanza IP Housing Project (formerly Mlang IP Housing Project) in Esperanza, Mlang (50); Tboli Village Project in Sitio Kule, Salacafe, Tboli (100); 

Malungon Highlanders Village in Sitio Kalonbarak, Poblacion, Malungon (100); Kalamansig Manobo Village  in Sitio Ponpongan, Limulan, Kalamansig (100); Safe Refuge Haven for Intellectuals in Sitio Malikongkong, Doroluman, Arakan (100); Imamaling Tribal Village IP Housing in Imamaling, Magpet (100); Kiapat IP Housing Project in Sitio Kiapat, Ganatan, Arakan (50); Bacung Kanyeh Tribal Village in Bacung, Tulunan (100); Polomolok IP Housing Project in Sitio Lamcuah, Maligo, Polomolok (100); and Datu Sandigan Village Phase 3 in Kimahuring, President Roxas (50). 

Apart from the completed housing units, NHA and partners are currently implementing housing projects that will build 1,874 units  with aggregate cost of P455 million, Cabiles said. 

Cabiles explained further that LGUs may avail of technical and financial assistance for implementation of housing projects in their jurisdiction by submitting proposals to NHA. 

All projects up to P50 million are approved at the regional level, she added. (PIA XII)