Zenaida Cabiles, NHA regional manager, told the Philippine Information Agency that the housing project is located in the remote and highland villages of Sitios Lifian and Kuhanen in Barangay Pamantingan, Esperanza.
The project, Cabiles explained, was implemented in partnership with the municipal government of Esperanza under NHA’s Resettlement Assistance Program—Local Government Units Assistance Program for Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities.
Under this program, NHA downloads funding to the partner LGU, which in turn carries out the infrastructure project.
Cabiles said the initial housing assistance to LGU Esperanza amounted to P15 million, used to build the first 66 housing units.
Beneficiaries of concrete houses in Barangay Pamantingan are indigenous peoples of the Manobo-Dulangan and Teduray tribes that needed relocation due to threats of landslides and flooding.
“At present, we are processing the second tranche amounting to P5 million for additional houses, which will complete the target 100 houses,” Cabiles said.
“The LGU expects to complete the remaining houses within the year,” she added.
At the award ceremony, Cabiles appealed to the beneficiaries to nurture what was given to them by the government.
“Para sa mga beneficiaries, ang housing project, bilang tulong sa kanila as one of the basic services ng NHA, dapat mahalin nila. Huwag nilang ibenta para ito ay mapakinabangan pa ng mga susunod na henerasyon,” Cabiles said.
[For the beneficiaries, they should love the houses given to them as one of the basic services of the NHA. Do not sell them so that your next generation will still be able to use and take advantage of them.]
The new owners, she added, may also make improvements that would further enhance their experience living in their new houses. (DED - PIA Region 12)
