19 May 2021|

#HousingProgram: Another Tagumpay project for the cultural communities of Tagum City unfolded today as the LGU Tagum in collaboration with the National Housing Authority and the National Commission on Indigenous People broke grounds on the 16-year old dream of the tribal communities -THE MASANDAG TRIBAL VILLAGE. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the next phase of what will become a remarkable beginning of an 80-million peso house-assistance project which will not just provide land and shelter to 400 IP beneficiaries, but more importantly grant them hope, social justice, and a lifetime of opportunities. Made possible by the funds provided by the National Housing Authority through their program Pabahay para sa Tribu or Housing Assistance For Indigenous People (HAPIP), the partnership was officially sealed by a Memorandum of Agreement signed by Marcelino Escalada Jr. the General Manager of the National Housing Authority; Chairperson Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous People; Bia Lilia Magkidong-Lagunsad, The City Tribal Chieftain; and City Mayor Hon. Allan Lopez Rellon. Under the signed agreement, the LGU of Tagum City is set to provide 5 hectares of land for the project’s location at Brgy. Canocotan, while the National Housing Authority will allocate funds amounting to 80 million pesos. Furthermore, the Tagum City Federation of Barangay Tribal Council is designated for the proposal of the project and the selection of the 400 IP Beneficiaries. Afterwards, 4 cheques amounting to 80 million pesos for phases 1 to 4 were turned over to the LGU, signifying that once the funds will be downloaded, the construction of the project will begin straight away and will be completed next year. IP beneficiaries were also in awe as Escalada declared that NHA will provide additional grants for Tribal Halls, both for tribal gatherings and tribal rituals.