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The National Housing Authority (NHA) held the groundbreaking of the Matigsalug IP Village on March 14, 2022, located in Brgy. Lorega (Napalico), Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

NHA General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr. led the ceremony with Indigenous Person Mandatory Representative Municipal Councilor Cosme M. Lambayon; National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region X Director Ana Burgos; Kitaotao Mayor Lorenzo A. Gawilan, Jr.; Municipality of Kitaotao Councilors Roelito A. Gawilan and Mary Ann G. Angit; Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr.; and 3rd District of Bukidnon Representative Manuel F. Zubiri.

The Matigsalug IP Village is part of NHA’s Housing Assistance Program for Indigenous Peoples (IPs), intended to help improve the living conditions and uplift the well-being of the Matigsalug-Manobo Tribe through housing service delivery.

Under the program, NHA shall provide P20 million funding to the Local Government of Kitaotao to construct 60 housing units. The funding to the local government unit covers land development, housing construction, and technical assistance.

The houses provided in the program are accustomed to the IPs’ beliefs, culture, customs, traditions, livelihood, and the symbols they observe. NHA regularly conducts consultations with the affected IP community, NCIP, and the LGU concerned in finding a suitable location for the housing site and ensuring that the chosen area is within their ancestral domain and near farmlands.