The Gawad Kalinga-Philippine National Police (GK-PNP) Quartering Project celebrated the inauguration and blessing of Buildings B and C last Sept. 25. Some 160 housing beneficiaries — all PNP personnel — honored Gen. Avelino I. Razon Jr., who spearheaded the project.
Situated on a four-hectare lot at the south eastern corner of Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig, the Quartering Complex is just one of the many enduring legacies of Razon to the PNP organization. For this project, Razon sought to elevate and support the general well-being of PNP personnel, most of whom have been living in squatter’s areas despite the noble and hard work that they have been doing for the country and their fellowmen.
Responding to Razon’s mission, the architectural firm JT Beldia & Associates, Inc. designed the master plan for the project, which provides for simple, decent and healthy residential units to 1,000 PNP families. This GK-PNP joint undertaking also utilizes the building systems technology developed by JTB Development Co. Inc.
Part of the project’s appeal for its beneficiaries and supporters include the plan and usage flexibility of its sustainable architectural planning and design solutions, and building finishes that are designed to be upgradeable without alteration works on its basic structural design components.
To create energy efficiency, the hallways of each floor level are lined with natural light and ventilation wells. Every building structure, although low-cost in design, is provided with large volume-capacity of rainwater storage tanks to support the vegetable farm on the roof deck of each building. The roof garden decks will specialize in growing herbal plants initially for community consumption, but may eventually expand to commercial operation.
Future development plans include the conversion of the old LSS building into a three-level multipurpose hall that can accommodate up to 1,000 people for GK, PNP and community functions. The hall will include meeting rooms, a well-equipped gym, and dormitory accommodations for small conferences or small conventions and other socio-civic functions. The hall’s restaurant and coffee shop offer complete food service.
A kabuhayan center will also be developed to provide livelihood programs and projects, especially vocational skills training, open to family members of the community. Livelihood projects being lined up include a laundromat, vegetable/herbal farm products, and construction-related products such as basic furniture, mosaic tiles production, etc. Structures for convenience stores, commercial stalls, shops and a mini-market place (talipapa) will be offered for rent to PNP families or to any kapitbahayan association of the community.
All plans and objectives of the project are done under the strict supervision and guidance of Gawad Kalinga’s caretaker teams of volunteers.
Aside from attending to the residents’ physical and financial well-being, the project will also attend to the spiritual needs of project beneficiaries through spiritual life program (teaching modules) and value formation seminars.
Funding and support was generously provided by government and private institutions that believed in the project’s low-cost building system, energy-efficient and environmentally-responsive design, and planning provisions and solutions. Institutions that are currently supporting the project include AFPSLAI, Manila Water, Meralco and the PMA Alumni Association.
For private donors who wish to support the project, call GK project director Bro. Arturo Alabanza at 906-4137796, e-mail Bro. Dan Bercasio at danbercasio@gmail.com, call the Gawad Kalinga trunkline at 718-1738 up to 41