ILOILO CITY — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is spearheading a P20-million housing project for Panay Bukidnon, an indigenous peoples (IP) group affected by the mega dam project in Calinog, Iloilo.
“We are taking another big step towards our goal of providing new homes for our brother IPs, not just new homes, but better lives for them,” said Engr. Jonel Borres, NIA-Region 6 (Western Visayas) manager.
NIA Region 6 has received P15 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA), which is funding majority of the construction for the homes of IP families displaced by the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP-II), the P11.2-billion project that is building three separate dams and reservoirs.
“The amount will cover work components such as lay-out and excavation, concrete, masonry, roof and roof framing, carpentry, plumbing, doors and windows, tiles, painting, electrical with solar panels, and construction of project markers,” Borres said.
An initial 35 Panay Bukidnon families will be beneficiaries of the housing project to be located in Sitio Agburi, Barangay Cahigon.
Borres assured that the relocation site was thoroughly assessed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and was found to be conducive for residential housing.