UV, partners to help Kamagayan residents

CEBU, Philippines —  The University of the Visayas (UV) and its partner-organizations launched on Friday a community extension program that seeks to give livelihoods to residents of Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City.

UV, through its Community Relations and Linkages office, has partnered with the Department of Manpower Development and Placement Cebu (DMDP), By Design Trading (BDT), International Pharmaceutical Incorporated Foundation, Rotary Club of Cebu-Fuente, and Cebu City Police Office for the program. A memorandum of agreement was signed on Friday.

Dr. Jezreel Tanilon, UV director for community relations and linkages, said they are expecting more partners to join the program soon.

“Daghan pa maapil ani, mga malls og industries nga mosugyot ani aron mausab ang imahe sa atoang barangay,” Tanilon said.

The program, dubbed as HEART (Health and wellness, Ecology and spirituality, Arts, Culture and literacy, and Technology and livelihood) is designed to help residents of the barangay in all aspects. Tanilon said some aspects of the program have already started.

He urged the residents to register for the program, which hopes to provide them better livelihoods within a five-year timetable.

“Ang atong expectations nga after a year, two years or five years, makita nato ang anam-anam nga pag-uswag sa kinabuhi ug sa kinatibuk-an nga pagkatawo sa atong mga residente,” Tanilon said.

Kamagayan is reputed as a red light district in downtown Cebu City. — Imarie Jane D. Madarieta, USJ-R Intern, JMD (FREEMAN)