The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has recently rolled out its first-ever “subdivision-like” housing projects for indigenous peoples (IPs) in Aurora and Nueva Ecija.
Secretary Eduardo del Rosario spearheaded the groundbreaking for the housing project for members of the Dumagat tribe in Barangay Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora.
The housing project stands to benefit 245 Dumagat families.
Despite the rain and heat, Del Rosario led similar activities for land development of a covered court and an evacuation center for the Dumagat tribespeople in the vicinity.
The undertakings are part of DHSUD’s mandate and are in line with the Duterte administration’s directive of prioritizing IPs in the provision of safe, resilient, and affordable housing communities to all Filipinos.
“I was about 12 or 13 years old when my father would bring me along hunting and spent days with the Dumagats … so, I experienced first-hand the hardships of the Dumagats in the mountains,” the housing czar said.
The DHSUD chief spearheaded the groundbreaking for 95 housing units in Barangay Malinao in Gabaldon.
The subdivision-like housing projects would be equipped with drainage system, power and water facilities, and road networks.