Smart helps Gawad Kalinga build sustainable communities

For the country’s leading cellular carrier, contributing to Gawad Kalinga’s much-awarded community-building program isn’t just about building homes. Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) is also engaged in helping develop innovative entrepreneurial projects and disaster preparedness programs for its beneficiaries.

More than two years since it pledged to build its first Gawad Kalinga (GK) village for fire victims of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, SMART, together with parent firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), has committed to build seven GK Amazing Villages for homeless families displaced by various calamities.

At 100 per village, that adds up to a commitment to construct 700 new houses.

"As we build these communities, we are also adding livelihood and disaster preparedness projects. These elements are needed to help make these communities sustainable," said Ramon R. Isberto, Public Affairs Group head of SMART, at the Rising from Disaster… Beyond Relief forum.

The forum was one of many activities that were part of the three-day Gawad Kalinga Global Expo 2006 themed The Power of We, held recently at the SM Mall of Asia to mark Gawad Kalinga Foundation’s GK 777 3rd anniversary. Through GK 777, the Couples for Christ-based foundation aims to provide 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years or by 2010.

Speakers included Department of National Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, national and local government officials who shared how partnering with GK helped build stronger houses and communities for victims of natural disasters and armed conflict.

SMART and PLDT have completed two villages – in Baseco Compound, Tondo, Manila and in Camp Abubakar, Barira, Maguindanao, for members of the Iranun tribe who lost their homes during the armed conflict several years ago. Four villages are expected to be completed by next year – in General Nakar, Quezon for victims of floods and landslides; Cebu City, Ceby for informal settlers; Iloilo City, Iloilo for families of street children; and Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija for families of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PLDT, SMART, GK and the local government are preparing for the seventh village in Southern Leyte. Beneficiaries will be the survivors of the landslide that buried Brgy. Guinsaugon last February 2006.

"This year, we are consolidating our seven GK villages and are focusing on livelihood and disaster preparedness to make sure that people will be safe and secure," said Isberto.

Model GK village

The SMART Amazing GK Village in Barangay Banglos, General Nakar, Quezon showcases SMART’s evolving approach to community building. First, aside from providing the funds to build 100 hours for flood and mudslide victims, SMART has deployed more than 600 employee volunteers to help in the actual construction.

SMART has also helped the Banglos residents develop and innovative livelihood project by turning the old logs washed down by the floods into wood sculpture. Mostly fishermen and farmers, some 40 Banglos residents learned the art of wood sculpting from renowned sculptor Rey Paz Contreras.

"While they go on with their livelihood (as fishermen), now, they’re also artists in their own right," said Darwin Flores, SMART’s senior manager for Community Partnerships.

The company also engaged the environmental group Haribon Foundation to assist Banglos residents in replanting 20,000 wildlings in the surrounding areas, Isberto added. Following the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) recommendation, endemic species or plants that are native to General Nakar, have been planted.

SMART has also set up an emergency communications system in the towns of Real, Infanta and General Nakar, in Quezon under the REINA project of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The company donated batingaws or warning bells made from recycled oxygen tanks to warn residents should there be a need for mass evacuation from flashfloods or other calamities. When disaster strikes, Phivolcs informs the barangay and then the local officials use the batingaw to assemble the people.

"The national and regional authorities’ response during a calamity is not enough," said Isberto. "Communities also need to know what to do. So, community-based disaster programs are essential."

To replicate what it has done in the SMART Amazing GK Village in General Nakar, SMART is looking for sustainable livelihood opportunities for its six other adopted GK villages. In Baseco, for instance, residents are being trained on urban gardening and furniture making using pinewood.