CEBU – One hundred families got the chance to own houses upon the completion of the Gawad Kalinga Amazing Village in Cebu City’s mountain barangay of Budlaan. This was made possible through the joined efforts of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Smart Communications, and PLDT-Smart Foundation under their Corporate Social Responsibility program which is to provide homes to the homeless.
The third batch of houses was turned over last Friday wherein 13 beneficiaries formally received the ceremonial key from the benefactors. The final batch consists of 31 houses which were all blessed during the turnover ceremony.
“It has taken some time and a lot of effort from our community partnership program associates, but we’ve finally completed the 100 houses committed for GK Budlaan,” Ramon Isberto, SMART public affairs group head, said.
The construction began in 2006 and was finally finished just recently. Completion was achieved through the combined efforts of PLDT, Smart, Couples for Christ through its ministry Gawad Kalinga and its partner schools, corporations and other volunteers.
The first batch of houses was turned over on June 2006 while the second on March 2007. The 100 houses completed the total 163 houses built in GK Budlaan occupying a 1.8-hectare land donated by the Cebu City government under its housing program.
GK-Cebu provincial head Danny Lagahid said that GK is very much grateful for the help of their benefactors and volunteers. “We know that it is beyond Corporate Social Responsibility, it is their love for their fellow Filipinos and the country.”
PLDT-Cebu Customer Service head also thanked the beneficiaries for giving the company and its volunteer employees the chance to be of service to the community.
The Cebu City government represented by Councilor Edwin Jagmoc promised that they will always monitor the place to check for its security, maintenance, and needs and concerns of the residents.
It was through the effort of the city government that the Visayan Electric Company extended its line for the residents to enjoy electric power supply.
Jagmoc promised to “put more lights to the village” and “extend basic services like the installation of additional deep wells” which are their main water source.
Last Friday was also the turnover ceremony of the newly constructed bridge funded by Cebu North District Rep. Raul del Mar. The project worth P3 million was completed last month. It has lessened the difficulty of residents in going to the highway where they had to pass through the muddy creek.
Aside from the houses provided by Smart-PLDT, the tandem also initiated livelihood programs for their beneficiaries to equip them with skills they can use to generate income.
In 2006, PLDT and Smart introduced the Bags for Life workshop where they trained at least five residents in bag making. In 2007, vegetable gardening was also introduced.
GK Village has its own preparatory school named “Sibol” for resident children, ages three to six years. It also has a multipurpose hall, a dry market, an open basketball court, and a water catchment facility which can also be their source of water. — Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)