Tabuk City, Kalinga – Delivery of more effective services for the people of Kalinga and Cordillera Indigenous Peoples (IPs) is now assured with the inauguration of the new three-storey provincial building of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
The inauguration was held Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City led by NCIP Chairperson Allen Capuyan. The event was conducted alongside the celebration of the 2021 Indigenous People’s Month.
During the event, it was disclosed that the P35 million building was originally for a regional NCIP building but construction did not push thru due to the unavailability of a lot in Benguet and Baguio City.
“We spent days, weeks and even months to find a lot in Benguet, hindi available yung former BIBAK dorm compound, may problema. Although there is that building of Cordillera Regional Assembly, which NCIP was using, they could not certify that it was given to NCIP, so we looked for another area,” former NCIP Commissioner Basilio Wandag said.
Wandag then wrote a letter to Kalinga officials headed by Governor Ferdinand Tubban and was immediately acted upon by them.
The proposal was submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways, later approved, and was endorsed to Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang for its funding.
As a result, the building’s construction was pursued in the government center reservation in the province.
Funding and Current Status of the Project
According to Engineer Ruby Uyam, Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the Assistant District Engineer of the Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office, the construction was funded under the Fiscal year 2020 or the General Appropriation Act of 2020.
She related that the construction commenced on February 21, 2020, and was completed January 2021, but due to the pandemic and restrictions, the inauguration was delayed until October.
The building, according to Uyam, is substantially completed and is fit for its intended use, but they are still to construct its fencing and correct some minor defects.
“Substantially completed pay lang because we need to construct daytoy fencing an, and then, di pa natin na-test 'tong elevator and the water system. Still, we have to correct, meron na kaming mga nakitang minor defects,” Uyam explained.
During the program, NCIP Kalinga Provincial Officer Atty. Catherine Apaling expressed gratitude to individuals who served as instruments for the realization of the project, which she said, will benefit the IPs of Kalinga.
She expressed their commitment that they shall continue to be steadfast and committed in protecting the rights and interests not only the IPs of Kalinga but the Cordillera Region as a whole.
Officials present during the ceremony were NCIP Commissioner for Central Mindanao Jennifer Sibug- Las, NCIP Regional Director Atty. Marlon Bosantog, Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Governor Ferdinand Tubban, PNP Provincial Director PCol Davy Vicente Limmong, Provincial IPMR Mike Sugguiyao, DPWH officers and personnel, Municipal and City IPMRs, and NCIP-Kalinga personnel.
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