(Eagle News) — Hundreds of families from the B’laan Tribe in South Cotabato were the latest beneficiaries of a housing and eco-farming project of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
No less than the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo conducted a pastoral visit in Cotabato South East, in the Barangay of Danlag, one of the farthest barangays or villages in the municipality of Tampakan.
The Executive Minister also inaugurated the new housing and eco-farming project in the area where members of the B’laan tribe, an indigenous group from southern Mindanao, will now reside and receive much needed support.
Hundreds of families are benefiting from the eco-farming project because aside from housing, they will be given jobs through the EVM self-sustainable resettlement community.
Sixteen thousand hectares of land have been allotted to this EVM Eco-farming and housing project.
Five hectares were set for the housing area where 500 units are already built; the rest would be divided for the plantation of different crops like bananas, maize, cacao and coffee.
A garment shop was also set up to benefit the women of B’laan tribe who would also undergo training for the job.
The houses were built according to the specifications given by the B’laan residents – a big group of Lumad in Mindanao.
This is one of the projects of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, to help lift people out of poverty.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo also conducted a relief distribution and medical mission.