NIA-JRMP II turns over housing project to IP beneficiaries
The Project Management Office (PMO) of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) turned over the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Housing Project to 32 beneficiaries yesterday, October 28, 2025 at Sitio Agburi, Barangay Cahigon, Calinog, Iloilo.
This significant milestone attended by various stakeholders, including government officials and local leaders, highlighted the commitment of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in securing the welfare of the Project Affected Families (PAF), specifically the Panay Bukidnon Indigenous Peoples, in the implementation of the irrigation development project through provision of a relocation site.
A total of 32 families who were deemed qualified to avail the group relocation package based on the provisions of the project’s Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan (LARAP) were awarded with 35 square meters single detached house in a 150 square meters lot. Included in the relocation package is the provision of a group livelihood to ensure economic sustainability of the benefiting families.
The IP Housing Project is a collaborative project of government agencies and Local Government Units (LGU) through the Inter-Agency Convergence Mechanism for the JRMP II with a unified goal of providing better lives to the IP families.
The National Housing Authority (NHA) played a vital role in the implementation of the IP Housing Project. They funded the construction of the houses and provided their technical expertise ensuring that the housing project’s compliance with national housing standards.
The Provincial LGU of Iloilo on the other hand provided safe and adequate water supply to the relocated families.
Engineer Jonel B. Borres, Regional Manager of NIA VI and Concurrent Project Manager of JRMP II, emphasized two things in his message delivered by Mr. Steve E. Cordero. He congratulated the beneficiaries for they are now the official owners of the IP Housing Project as well challenged them to continue taking care of their houses and the entire resettlement site.
On the other hand, NHA Regional Manager Rizalino G. Cabahug expressed that the JRMP II IP Housing Project is part of the Housing Assistance Program for Indigenous Peoples (HAPIP) of the NHA which provides housing projects to IPs with consideration to their customs and traditions. He then reminded the beneficiaries to take care and develop the housing project provided by the government.
Also present during the ceremony were Engineer Rolly D. Baldomero of the NHA Iloilo-Guimaras District Office, Attorney Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr. of the Iloilo Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU), Mr. Hazel Acse of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Attorney Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr. of the JRMP II Multi-Partite Monitoring Team, Cahigon Barangay Captain Jinky Lumogdang, Cahigon Council of Elders Chieftain Delia Lucio and the NIA-JRMP II management.
