Governor, US ambassador turn over Gawad Kalinga houses to recipients

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia and US ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. led the turn-over of 10 Gawad Kalinga houses in barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla town to their new owners.

Ferlit Arcayan, 32, in an interview with the media, said she was happy her family was picked to be among the beneficiaries of a brand new house.

Arcayan's family has been living for years in a province-owned lot in Sudlon, barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

"Nalipay kaayo mi kay hangtod sa hangtod amoa naman ning among bay," said another beneficiary, Josefa Palmer, 37.

Palmer, who used to be an informal dweller in a public lot in Cebu City, was among the first settlers in the colorful row houses, the trademark of Gawad Kalinga.

One of the concerns of the beneficiaries however is the distance of their new homes to their work in Cebu City.

The GK site is on an upland part of Tunghaan or about 800 meters from the main road, a temporary problem, according to Boy dela Cerna, community organizer of GK-Cebu.

Dela Cerna said part of the plan is to build a "Sibol School" for pre-scholers in the neighborhood.

The neighborhood is also near the Tunghaan Elementary School, he said.

Also, dela Cerna said livelihood programs such as farming will soon be introduced to the community.

As of the moment, the neighborhood is into backyard gardening for their daily use and business as well, he said.

Dela Cerna said if the provincial government will agree, they will let the homeowners will farm about one hectare of the property; while no houses have been built there.

The prime 8.5 hectares where already 72 colorful houses are standing is owned by the province.

Yesterday, Garcia and Harry K. Thomas, Jr., US ambassador to the Philippines, also opened the road network which leads to the GK houses.                 These 72 new homes were built for the urban poor families by Lexmark International, whose employees and officials came yesterday to build additional houses.

As of yesterday, there are 12 unfinished houses in the GK site.

Lexmark has pledged to erect 150 houses in the area, which is capable to hold about 600 houses.

In his speech, Thomas thanked GK, Lexmark International, and the provincial government for "changing the lives" of the people who became recipients of the free houses.

The other day, Thomas was also a part of the anti-trafficking of children and said "giving families like this (new home) stops the trafficking of children." (FREEMAN)