Gawad Kalinga leads typhoon rehab effort

The tragedy that befell typhoon-stricken provinces has rekindled the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos.

At the helm is Gawad Kalinga, which is conducting the rehabilitation effort in typhoon affected areas in Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Mindoro provinces in coordination with the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD) and other national government agencies.

Gawad Kalinga, or GK, which was tasked by President Arroyo to lead the rehabilitation effort has started a massive fundraising campaign to help victims of the calamities rebuild their shattered lives the Kalinga way.

"We have received pledges for typhoon victims from all over the world," Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga director, said.

GK, ABS-CBN, The Star, Ateneo de Manila University, Couples for Christ make up the core group that is now working out an action plan that will rebuild devastated communities and restore homes, dreams and dignity of the victims of calamity.

GK, a movement founded by Couples for Christ volunteers five years ago, has been building low cost houses for poor communities in various parts of the county.

The group is a growing multisectoral partnership with a vision to address the slum problem in the metropolis. Most of the benefactors of the GK are big companies and donors from all over the world, particularly in the US.

The group recently launched "GK777" which stands for building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in the Philippines in the next seven years.

"GK is not a work of charity, but a mission of nation building and crusade for all Filipinos. It involves every sector of society," Meloto said.

Beneficiaries of GK homes help in the construction of other homes as part of the so-called sweat collateral, which they contribute to the mission.

Apart from low cost housing, GK also undertakes livelihood skills and assistance programs and medical missions

Terence Grana, GK coordinator in Quezon City, said that with the rise of GK homes, slums are disappearing with rich and poor, Muslims and Christians government and the private sector building communities together.

"The poor are re-discovering their dreams, and are being empowered to build a better future for their families," Grana said.