THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Monday rolled out its first ever housing projects for indigenous peoples (IPs) in the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija on Monday.

DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario spearheaded the groundbreaking for the housing project for members of the Dumagat tribe in Barangay Matawe, Dingalan town in Aurora.

The housing project will benefit 245 Dumagat families. Shrugging off rain and heat, the housing czar likewise spearheaded similar activities for land development of a covered court and an evacuation center for the Dumagat tribespeople also in the vicinity.

According to the DHSUD chief, such undertakings are part of the Department’s mandate and are in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive of prioritizing IPs in the provision of safe, resilient and affordable housing communities to all Filipinos.

“Nung inilapit ng inyong mayor ang proyektong ito, agad kong sinabi na ‘approved without thinking.’ Hindi na ito kailangang pag-isipan pa. Dapat ibigay ang tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” the housing czar said.

In his message, Secretary Del Rosario reminisced how he spent days in the outskirts of Nueva Ecija and Aurora hunting with his father with the Dumagats.

“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 firat hand the hardships of the Dumagats in the mountains,” said the housing czar.

Also gracing the momentous events were Aurora Rep. Cong. Rommel Angara, Dingalan Mayor Shierwin Taay, Municipal Vice Mayor Edgardo Galvez and DHSUD Regional Office 3 Director Felix Brazil Jr.

In the afternoon, Secretary Del Rosario broke ground for another housing project intended for the Dumagat tribespeople, this time in the province of Nueva Ecija.

The DHSUD chief spearheaded the groundbreaking for 95 housing units in Brgy. Malinao in the town of Gabaldon.

The subdivision-like housing projects will be equipped with drainage system, power and water facilities and road networks.

Secretary Del Rosario subsequently graced the groundbreaking for land development and construction of a permanent evacuation center and multi-purpose covered court in Brgy. Ligaya also in the municipality.

In attendance were Gabaldon LGU officials led by Mayor Jobby Emata, who expressed the town’s gratitude for the “blessing” coming from DHSUD and the national government.

The DHSUD chief underlined the government’s efforts in reaching out to the grassroots, stressing that it is President Duterte’s directive to make the provision of evacuation centers in disaster-risk areas in the eastern seaboards a priority.

“Dinoble ang standard nito (evacuation center). Sa briefing kanina, kumpleto. Doble ang tibay niya that can withstand kahit gaano kalakas na earthquake at bagyo, itong ating evacuation center ay makaksiguro tayo na ito ay talagang makakapag-provide ng safety sa mga evacuees,” Secretary Del Rosario said.

“Ito ay iniutos ng ating mahal na Pangulo dahil Nakita niya ang paghihirap ng ga LGUs along the eastern coastline. At ako ay naatasan niya na bigyang priority and pagtatayo ng mga evacuation centers dito. Kasabay nito ay nagpapagawa rin tayo ng mga pabahay para sa nga indigenous people or the Dumagats,” he added.