RAFI, European visitors build houses for Bajaos

CEBU, Philippines - At least four Badjao families will soon have a house to call their own after the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. yesterday turned over four houses to the Badjao community in Barangay Mambaling.

Nacario Castro, executive director of the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., said the four houses which were started to be built two weeks ago by a group of Europeans will be given to four deserving Bajao families.

Castro said the beneficiaries will be jointly identified by RAFI and the Bajao community in Mambaling. According to Castro, each of the four houses costs P100,000.

Castro said the group of Europeans who are in Cebu for a Multi-City Youth Exchange Program organized by the city government and RAFI is helping in the construction of the four houses. The Europeans are in here for a 20-day visit to learn about Cebuano culture.

Aside from building houses, the group will also be visiting the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation office, Cebu City Medical Center and the Cebu Technological University campus in Barili for a youth encounter.

The delegation includes 27 guests from Kortrijk in Belgium and Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands. The Dutch group includes 12 youths and three adults. The Belgium delegates include 10 youths and two adult leaders.

Half of the delegates’ travel expenses were subsidized by their respective governments. The delegates paid the balance, raising funds by washing cars, selling recyclable bottles and walking for a cause. (FREEMAN)