The construction of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Village in the 55-hectare land in Sitio Bayabas, Barangay Bunog, Rizal, Palawan is now ongoing, an statement released by the Provincial Capitol said.
The IP Village is a project of the Department of Health (DOH), Provincial Government of Palawan, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., Center For Health Development IV-B, and the Local Government Unit of Rizal.
There are more than 100 IP families who will directly benefit from the project wherein every family will receive a housing unit on a 100-square-meter lot. The project aims to address the increasing malaria cases in Rizal by bringing the IP families closer to the health services and support facilities.
Two months ago, the DOH and the Provincial Government led the groundbreaking of the IP Village together with partner agencies and organizations.
DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana, DOH Regional Director Mario Baquilod, Marvi Trudeau of Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., and National Malaria Coordinator Dr. Raffy Deray attended the activity together with the provincial and local government officials.
Engr. Saylito Purisima, head of the infrastructure sector of the provincial government, explained that facilities necessary for the delivery of the basic social services will be constructed within the IP Village.
“Ang plano ni Gov. dito, lahat ng mga IPs ay mabigyan ng hanapbuhay… Nandito ang Department of Health para mag-provide ng Barangay Health Station; nag-usap na kami ni Mayor na mag-provide ng school buildings… Si Gov. namigay na ng mga Solar Home System para sa bahay at palalagyan ng street lighting para during construction maliwanag dito,” he said.
Mayor Norman Ong of Rizal, Palawan said that their town is one of the highest recorded cases of malaria in the country and he is thankful for selecting their town as the pilot project site of the IP village.
The Provincial Government targets to eliminate malaria in Palawan by 2022.