BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental (PIA)--Days after rolling out housing projects intended for indigenous peoples (IPs) in Luzon, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) led by Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario launched more shelter projects for IPs in Mindanao.
Secretary Del Rosario spearheaded the signing of a memorandum of agreement and groundbreaking ceremonies for five housing projects intended for members of the Higaonon tribes in Region 10 and 13, in line with the Department’s mandate of providing Filipino families access to decent, sustainable, resilient, and more affordable housing communities.
The housing projects under the government’s BALAI Housing Program will be funded using developers’ incentivized compliance to balanced housing, under the scheme, 250 housing units will be established in Barangay Kibanban in Balingasag town and Barangay Minalwang in Claveria--both in Misamis Oriental, and in Barangay Kamagong in Nasipit and Barangay Bokbokan in Las Nieves in Agusan Del Norte; and Barangay Sinakungan in Esperanza, Agusan Del Sur.
“These projects are in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive of prioritizing IPs in the provision of safe, resilient and affordable housing communities,” Del Rosario shared.
Aside from the housing units, the construction of five tribal halls in each location, as well as a multi-purpose covered court in Barangay Samay, Balingasag, will also be included in the projects.
Del Rosario said such undertakings are part of the government efforts under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s initiatives to insulate IP villages in the far-flung communities from communist influence.
"These projects will ensure the safety of our IPs, and keep them away from harm both natural and man-made,” he added.
The latest IP housing projects will be implemented jointly by DHSUD and the local government units concerned, supported by various stakeholders including the Philippine Army, TESDA, National Commission for Indigenous People, and partner non-government organizations. (DHSUD/PIA- 10/Misamis Oriental)
