"Hope is the bridge
that connects us
where we want to go.
FAITH assures us
that the bridge will hold.
LOVE gives us the reason
to cross it." Supreme Court Justice Consuelo Y. Santiago.
It is welcome news that feuding solons finally got together to pass an urgent bill — that of creating a brand-new department — for Housing to address the housing shortage in the country.
They also agreed to pledge their support to the private initiative, the Gawad Kalinga GK 777 project.
GK 777 has so far built 15,274 homes in 570 communities in partnership with private citizens, business firms, Local Government Units.
They are still far from their target but getting there nicely, galvanizing massive multi-sectoral support along the way.
Even President Gloria and her estranged ex-ally, Private Citizen Cory Aquino have wholeheartedly supported this GK effort, before the Lower House decided to get on the housing bandwagon.
PCCA cited Gawad Kalinga as one of the Benigno Aquino, Jr. Foundation’s People Power on the 20th anniversary of hero Ninoy’s martyrdom.
She also consistently cites GK in her exhortations for Filipinos to be "heroes" for others. To GK officers and members, she is a genuine "heroine."
President Gloria, on the other hand, has gone to several GK communities and contributed R30 million from her Social Fund for housing units.
GK 777 beneficiaries hope she will donate more of course.
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What is GK 777 and why does it have all this support from various sectors? If it is so successful, why can’t its proponents be put in charge of the government’s housing project?
Well, GK 777 has so far been successful precisely because it is non-government led. I don’t want to sound like I am putting down government, but this is the painful fact.
And while we are on the subject of housing, I don’t see the point of creating under layer of bereaucracy for a new department of housing!
Think of the expense of funding such a department!
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We equate any project led by government, national or local, to be riddled with corruption, right? Very rarely do we put our complete trust in our officials’ capacity to do a good job, much less government agencies like the DPWH, the NHA and now a department of housing!
It does not help perceptions of government inefficiency that private efforts have built better and cheaper school buildings than these agencies.
*****
GK 777 relies on its committed members (mostly from Couples for Christ communities) for their share of time, resources (their form of tithing is called ‘padugo’ or blood-letting and it commits the members to the GK 777 program).
Government, because of its structure, does not have private efforts’ passion, creativeness, and resourcefulness.
For example, Tony Meloto, a CC "elder" who gave birth to GK 777 concept is effective because of his clear vision, single-minded dedication and honesty.
Try putting him in charge of the new department of housing and we will see the collapse of anything like GK 777.
What the supporters of GK 777 see are not only picture-pretty socialized housing units in rehabilitated sites either bought or donated (never squatted upon) but communities with social components such as day care center, a livelihood project, etc.
But more important, they see the lives of beneficiaries transformed as they themselves become empowered by the project to be leaders and volunteers in their areas.
I have been able to visit several GK communities, the last being the one in Baseco where Hubby led a medical mission from the United Doctors Medical Center (and lady doctors circumcised over 200 boys).
I was awed by its neat row of houses, its empowered residents and dedicated volunteers.
I have also met and interviewed several empowered beneficiaries from other Metro Manila communities on our show on channel 9, "Dee’s Day" and they are genuine, not "Mang Pandoys" to be trotted out when needed by officials to show they are doing something!
As we said GK’s appeal even in Filipino communities abroad like Canada, is that donors can see and walk through the homes and well-paved streets where their money was spent.
They can also help put the homes when they come back here. Now, try and name me a government project (except perhaps the Congressional Spouses Inc.’s Haven for battered women and youths in Alabang and other centers around the country which are also excellently-built and maintained) that inspires such trust!
