The National Housing Authority (NHA) has awarded 50 housing units to indigenous people (IPs) families in a ceremony held in Camalaniugan, Cagayan on July 19, 2023.

The beneficiaries belonging to the Agta Tribe received their duplex-type houses at the Camalaniugan IP Housing Project located in Brgy. Joaquin dela Cruz.

NHA GM Tai emphasized that the housing units are in line and sensitive with the beneficiaries’ cultures and traditions, adding that through these homes NHA is able to reach and extend its services to far-flung IP communities.

“Importante po sa amin na ang proyekto ay naaayon sa uri ng inyong pamumuhay at mga paniniwala, kaya dumaan po ito sa masusing pag-aaral. Hangad ko po na ang mga bagong tahanan ninyo ay magsilbing tanda ng aming pagpapahalaga at pagkilala sa inyo. Maging daan po sana ito ng masagana at maunlad na pamumuhay ng bawat pamilya,” the GM said.

NHA Region II and CAR 2 Regional Manager Engr. Ferdinand C. Sales, who represented General Manager Joeben Tai, together with Cagayan/Apayao/Kalinga/Batanes District Manager Engr. Joselyn S. Sunico; and Camalaniugan Mayor Isidro T. Cabadu, spearheaded the awarding of the shelters.

The project is under the Authority’s Housing Assistance Program for Indigenous Peoples (HAPIP), one of NHA’s main programs intended to provide housing needs to IPs, implemented in coordination with the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and local government units (LGUs), to improve their living conditions, pursuant to the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

The awarding of the housing units also coincides with the conclusion of the celebration of the Cultural Communities Week on July 3 to 10, 2023. The observance was enacted by Proclamation No. 250, s. 1988, that promotes IP cultures, traditions, and heritage as well as honor their importance to national unity and development.