SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — More than 3,000 Mangyan Indigenous Peoples from Barangay Monteclaro, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro will benefit from the new multi-purpose building from the DSWD KALAHI CIDSS PAMANA Project.
The building, called Balay Fagdayunan at Fanultulan, is a 49-square-meter facility that will serve as a community meeting hall and trade center.
The community proposed this project to the DSWD KALAHI CIDSS PAMANA as their tribemates from far-flung sitios need a place to rest after hours of travel.
“Una po, doon po sa malayong lugar kung saan aabutin sila ng gabi, mayroon silang tutuluyan. Kaya sa tribong Buhid, lalo na sa malayong lugar, gaya ng [Sitio] Mantay sa pagitan ng Oriental [Mindoro], pagdating po rito sa Brgy. Monteclaro, hindi na kung saan sila pupunta, kundi dito na po yung bahay na datnan ng bisita, dito pwedeng matulog,” Danilo Barrientos, the BDC-TWG of Barangay Monteclaro, said.
He added that their tribemates usually travel to trade, and the building can serve as a trade center and a safehouse to ensure their produce’s quality will be preserved.
The P1.2 million project, comprising the DSWD KALAHI grant and in-kind donations from the municipal and barangay LGU, includes furnishings such as chairs, electric fans, lights, and bathrooms.
First Lieutenant Jennie Rose D. Pacete of the Philippine Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion said that projects such as this help establish lasting peace, as it is a testament that the government reaches out to its people, contrary to what the communist terrorist group says.
“Alam naman natin na ang kawalan ng access sa mga malalayong lugar tulad ng mga nasa GIDAs or areas ay isa sa mga ginagamit na propaganda ng kalaban laban sa atin. So malaking tulong ito lalong lalo na sa ating mga kapatid na katutubo,” Pacete shared.
She added that infrastructures mark the start of progress in an area and are key to a peaceful and progressive community.
A turnover ceremony for the project was conducted on November 27.
During the activity, San Jose Mayor Rey C. Ladaga, representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Philippine Army were present.
The DSWD KALAHI CIDSS PAMANA project is one of the poverty-alleviating initiatives of the government that uses a community-driven development approach. The project empowers and capacitates the community to lead in problem-solving and lets them handle all the processes for the project to foster transparency and good governance. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
