AN INDIGENOUS Peoples (IP) building will soon to rise in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet following the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday. May 4.
The construction of the facility is made possible through the private, public and IP partnership composed of the Sn Aboitz in the private sector together with the barangay local government, and Local Government Unit of La Trinidad and the Benguet Provincial Government and Indigenous Peoples Organization of La Trinidad.
Pendon Thompson, La Trinidad Indigenous Peoples Mandatory representative, and Mayor Romeo Salda acknowledge all stakeholders who made the project possible. Both also added the soon to rise facility will serve as a place where IP communities gather, IP meetings, trainings to be held in La Trinidad’s own IP building.
Senior vice president of Aboitiz Power engineer Chris Faelnar said the IP building project is part of the community social responsibility of the company.
“Aboitiz purpose is driving change of a better world by advancing communities. With the groundbreaking, it is a testament of a small contribution of our driving change for the better world,” stated Faelnar on Saturday.
The IP building project is a two-storey 500 square meter building a funding of P10 million.
A memorandum of usufruct was singed November 2018 for the construction of the building seen to lapse for 30 years.
“With this particular building, felt important for the IPs. When you have your own building there is a sense of pride more than that we believe with this IP building this will empower the IP,” he added.
Faelnar meanwhile asked the stakeholders help to maintain the building which is eyed to be utilized as a training center in the future.
Provincial Administrator Noel Ngolob added the lot is donated by the provincial government.