GK's Bayani Challenge launched 2T houses to be built in Leyte, 264 in Ormoc

CEBU, Philippines - "No one is too poor to contribute and no one is too rich that they cannot help." This was the rallying cry of this year's organizers of Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge, which aims to build 2,000 houses in Yolanda-devastated Leyte towns, 264 of which will be in Ormoc City.

The grand launching of the challenge was held at Alang-alang town last Monday (April 6), with Ormoc City Mayor Edward Codilla as the guest speaker. Codilla shared Ormoc's experience with the Bayani Challenge, as the city was the first site of the first staging of the event, a few years back.

This year's challenge was aimed at mobilizing one million volunteers to work on the construction of 2,000 houses in all Yolanda-devastated areas in Leyte. Here in Ormoc, organizers estimated that about 10,000 volunteers are expected to work on 264 houses, to come in batches for a period of nine weeks starting today (April 9).

The organizers said at least 2,000 of the volunteers will come from outside of Leyte, including 400 personnel from the Metro Manila Development Authority, who already notified they will be coming over for a week. 

Lordman Monforte of GK said that, besides Ormoc City and Alang-alang town, similar building of houses will be done in the cities of Tacloban City in Leyte and Maasin City in Southern Leyte, and the towns of Albuera, Dulag, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palo, Palompon, San Isidro, San Miguel, Tanauan and Tolosa (all in Leyte).

There will be similar activities in Samar, he said, adding that this year's national build is also unique because, for the first time, GK bought lands to accommodate the resettlement areas.

Here in Ormoc, a soft launch will be held today, until April 11, when the actual build starts and the organizers will go on a massive recruitment of volunteers. Monforte said the launch coincides with the Araw ng mga Bayani while its culmination will be on June 12 which is the Philippine Independence Day.

Monforte said the organizers saw April 9 as significant to the Bayani Challenge as it is an activity for modern-day heroes. They urged everybody to join, either in groups of 15 or as individuals, and contribute perhaps cash, food and logistics..

The GK Bayani Challenge in Ormoc City will be done in four sites: Rotary GK Village at Brgy. Tambulilid, the first site of the national build, where 104 houses will be constructed; Block 7 of the old relocation site at Brgy. Tambulilid where 100 houses are being built by Globe Tattoo; and at Barangays Quezon Jr. and Maticaa where a total of 60 houses will be constructed.

The houses were designed under the concept of BBB to withstand winds of 260 kph-strong typhoon. Councilor Pedro Ebcas said the redesigned GK homes cost P125,000 each. The houses in Tambulilid will be taller, with lofts as sleeping places, to maximize the space but will have smaller windows than usual. Those in the two other villages will be bungalows or dupleces. (FREEMAN)