800 families' dream comes true as Lamut, Ifugao breaks ground for permanent homes

Lamut, Ifugao – More than 800 families in Lamut, Ifugao, are one step closer to owning a home they can finally call their own after the municipality officially broke ground for a major government housing project on Tuesday, June 30.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the launch of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program in the municipality.

The project is a partnership among the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), the Local Government Unit of Lamut, and the Lamut Homeowners Association.

Once completed, the development will feature 10 four-story residential buildings with more than 800 housing units, providing permanent homes for qualified beneficiaries in the municipality.

In a Facebook post, Mayor Mariano Buyagawan Jr. said the project brings to Lamut an opportunity that many residents once believed could only be found in larger cities.

He said the project is more than just constructing buildings—it is about giving families a safe place to live, raise their children, and build a better future.

"Today, with full hearts, we officially broke ground for 10 buildings, 4 stories, 800+ housing units—right here in Lamut. There was a time when “condo” meant Manila or Baguio. A dream too far away for most Lamuteño families. Not anymore. We brought that dream home. Homes, not just dreams. Because of 4PH, Pag-IBIG, DSHUD, SHFC, and our Lamut Homeowners Association, 800+ Lamuteño families will finally have walls they can paint, a door with their name on it, and a place where their children will grow up safe,” Buyagawan wrote.

Beyond providing housing, the mayor emphasized that the project is also expected to generate employment opportunities for local workers during construction while boosting the local economy through increased business activity once families begin occupying the housing units.

“Jobs, business, and progress. Construction means work for our fathers, brothers, and neighbors. 800 families means life for our markets, our stores, and our tricycle drivers. This project doesn’t just build buildings—it builds livelihoods,” he said.

Buyagawan also reaffirmed the local government's commitment to ensuring that future homeowners will have access to essential services and a community where families can live with dignity.

“To our future homeowners — we will make sure you have clean water, power, roads, and peace and order. You are not moving into a project. You are moving into a community; we will care,” he added.

For Lamut, which has a population of 26,520 based on the 2024 Census of Population, the housing development is expected to become one of the municipality's largest government housing initiatives.

The project aims to address the housing needs of hundreds of families while supporting Lamut's continuing growth and development.