Cebu City cops build house for single mother of 7 kids

CEBU, Philippines —  A single mother of seven children in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City is the second beneficiary of the housing project initiated by the Cebu City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) dubbed as “Bahay Mo, Puso Ko” program.

“Daghang salamat kaayo sa CMFC ug ni Sir Barandog, ikaduha ko niya gikuha sa Bahay Mo, Puso Ko...naa man koy balay pero gamay ra gud, kato tong nasunog,” Jenesa Belenia told the media during the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday.

According to her, she has been working as striker in the CMFC office for more than a year now to support her seven children. She is separated from her husband who, she claims, had been beating her.

She said she chose not to receive the financial support that her husband has been giving to her to avoid the possible reconciliation.

“Wala koy suporta gikan sa akong bana. Di man sad ko modawat og suporta kay mahadlok ko mobalik. Badlongon man, naa na tanan niyang bisyo, mangulata man sad siya,” said Belenia.

She further said that the donated house will be the beginning of their new life together with her children adding that it is timely since it is pandemic.

Belenia is a mother of seven children whose ages range from 5 to 24 years old.

CMFC chief, Police Major Chuck Barandog, said they are hopeful to turn over the house to Belenia after 26 days, given the estimated amount of time for its construction.

Next week, they are set to hold another groundbreaking ceremony for another recipient of their housing program in another mountain barangay in Cebu City.

“Naa tay category nga gisunod, naa tay mga criteria nga gisunod ani, unang-una katong mga less fortunate sa barangay and then gi-validate nato sa DSWS, and then gi-validate sad nato sa social welfare sa barangay,” said Barandog.

Previously, Barandog said they are aiming to touch the hearts of the community with their housing program.

According to him, their vision has been initially met considering that after the construction of two of the 13 houses, the community has been reaching out to them.

“Because, ang nga barangay officials ni-reach out na sa atoa very effective sad sya sa atoa kay outside ani nga project, maestoryahan man sad ang criminality situation sa isa ka barangay,” said Barandog.

For this year, Barandog said they have 13 more recipients.

Further, Carl Benson Ybasan, safety overseer of the project, said they will be also hiring locals from the community to hasten the pace of the construction.

“So amo ni i-make sure nga mobarug gyud ni sya para mapuy-an na...by Monday mag-start nami diri, so mga October seguro more or less third week (ma-turnover na),” said Ybasan. — GMR (FREEMAN)