Christmas came early for some 45 less fortunate families in Mandaluyong City who recently received the best gifts they could ever ask for — free housing units from the city government and a non-government organization.
To signal the start of the construction, Mandaluyong Mayor Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II signed last Tuesday, September 21, a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Gawad Kalinga, the city’s co-benefactor of the housing project and led the groundbreaking rites at the Fabella St. in Brgy. Plainview, Mandaluyong City.
Some 45 residents of the Esteban Homeowners Association in Brgy. Highway Hills and the Maralitang Mamamayan ng Mandaluyong in Barangka are the lucky new owners of 45 houses that will be built on a 788-square meter property on Fabella St. The private property which used to be a vacant lot was acquired by the city government from the Monteverde family.
The property will be converted into a "Fabella Village," comprising of a two-story townhouse-type units and a multi-purpose hall for the use of the entire community. Each unit will have a 32-square meter area that includes a loft. Materials for the construction of the houses will come from the Gawad Kalinga organization while a representative from each family will make up the labor force that will build the houses. The city government has tapped Meralco and Manila Water to install electricity and water services to each unit. The city engineer of Mandaluyong will likewise provide the necessary services for the housing units. The target date for the completion of the village is by end of the year.
The city government, however, requires each house owner of the Fabella Village to pay a very minimal, monthly fee of
R400 as payment for the land.
Meanwhile, the residents of the Fabella Village which will be called a "GK community," will undergo a series of seminars and trainings on values formation, skills and livelihood development. They will also be taught how to live out the spirit of Bayanihan which is aptly called "GK Kapitbahayan."
"This is our small contribution to the upliftment of the quality of life of the less fortunate. Through this small project, we would like to showcase to the country the result of a good working relationship between the LGU and private sector," GK official Jose Marie Oquiniena said.
He called on the residents of the Fabella Village to do their share in making their home a good place to live in.
Mayor Gonzales, on the other hand, appealed to the residents to take good care of their homes and work hard for the improvement of the quality of their lives.
He also cited Gawad Kalinga’s valuable contribution to the project.
"I take my hat off to GK (Couples for Christ) for being a very dynamic Christian organization which does not only intend to prove that there is hope for the country but also for fulfilling its ministry." He further challenged GK to continue its mission in the city of Mandaluyong, where there are a lot of potential sites to house the homeless and less fortunate residents of the city.
The housing project was started during the time of then Mayor Benhur Abalos. Mayor Gonzales pursued it upon assuming office and considered it as one of the priority projects for the city. He already plans to replicate the housing project in several areas in Mandaluyong such as Buayang Bato, Brgy. Namayan, and Welfareville.
Gawad Kalinga (GK) is an outreach arm of the Couples for Christ (CFC) religious organization. GK official Bert Patolot said it was born out of CFC’s desire to demonstrate its strong faith through good works, particularly by working for the poor and engaging in community development. GK was established to provide an alternative solution to poverty alleviation. In the long run, it aims to be able to completely eradicate poverty in the country with its vision of a "new Philippines with no more slums."
Unlike its international counterpart "Habitat for Humanity," Patolot said Gawad Kalinga builds not just the structure but the family and community as well. He explained that its programs consist of shelter and site development called Tatag; skills and value-based education for mothers and children of various ages; health; livelihood; scholarship; and community empowerment.
Patolot said GK has so far been able to provide shelter for some 8,000 poor families all over the country and is in the process of transforming 225 poverty-stricken areas into ideal homes and in improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. Its mission is expected to continue with its goal of providing 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years.
