GMA Kapuso Villages to rise in Tacloban, Palo

MANILA, Philippines - Rebuilding the lives of the many displaced residents in Leyte due to Typhoon Yolanda begins as GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) starts construction on two Kapuso Villages in Tacloban City and Palo.

In partnership with the local government units and the National Housing Authority (NHA), GMAKF’s Kapuso Villages will serve as resettlement areas for the residents of Tacloban and Palo who were displaced by Yolanda last year.

GMAKF EVP and COO Mel Tiangco led the groundbreaking ceremonies last Jan. 21, together with engineer Rizalde Mediavillo, NHA regional project manager.

Joining them were Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and Alden Villarmino and Emilita Montalban, heads of Barangays Sto. Niño and 88, respectively; and in Palo, Mayor Remedios Petilla and Leyte Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto.

Former residents of Barangay San Jose in Tacloban will be given priority for the 400 houses that will be built in the Kapuso Village in the area.

The GMAKF also hopes to foster learning among the youth with the construction of 20 new classrooms in the village. The construction site stands on a 3.5-hectare lot donated by the Tacloban City government.

Meanwhile, the relocation site in Sitio Caloogan, Palo will have 10 classrooms and 200 houses that will be allocated to former residents of Barangays San Joaquin, Baras and Guindaponan. The site is situated on about 2.5 hectares of forestland.