Gawad Kalinga housing project on in Aurora town

DIPACULAO, Aurora — Gawad Kalinga and the provincial government have jointly launched a P5-million housing project for 100 indigent families in this town.

The housing project is located in a three-hectare property of the municipal government in Barangay A.V. Mijares overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre mountains with a highway leading to Casiguran town.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) described the site as "suitable."

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, who led the groundbreaking along with his nephew, House Deputy Minority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara, said the provincial government intends to make the province a showcase of Gawad Kalinga housing projects.

She called on the mayors of Aurora’s eight towns to find housing sites, assuring them that the provincial government would extend support for similar Gawad Kalinga villages.

The P5-million Dipaculao housing project is funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Rep. Angara.

Provincial prosecutor Jesse Pimentel, provincial coordinator of the St. Tomas More Association of the Couples for Christ (CFC), which is initiating the building of Gawad Kalinga houses nationwide, told The STAR that the site in Barangay A.V. Mijares was found suitable for housing based on a geological assessment by a four-man MGB team.

Concerns about the suitability of identified housing sites were recently raised after the MGB declared a high-risk area and unsuitable for settlement a property in Barangay Caragsacan, Dingalan town.

Pimentel showed The STAR a copy of the certification issued by DENR Assistant Secretary and acting MGB director Jeremias Dolino giving assurance that the Mijares housing site is suitable for housing.

Pimentel said their group is planning to put up Gawad Kalinga villages even in all barangays of the province provided there are areas available for housing.

"We are just the catalyzer and we have partners," he said, adding that they are coordinating with fastfood giant Jollibee and Smart Communications for the building of additional houses.

He said they are also enlisting the help of the Army engineering battalion.

Dr. Romeo Cabanilla, president of the Aurora State College of Technology, said he is willing to donate part of a 100-hectare property of the school in Barangay Esteves, Casiguran town as a Gawad Kalinga housing site.

The groundbreaking of the Dipaculao housing project was also graced by Vice Gov. Annabelle Tangson, board member Joselito Cabauatan Sr., Mayor Danilo Tolentino, Bureau of Post-harvest Research and Extension executive director Ricardo Cachuela, CFC-Aurora area director Adriano Necesito, and barangay chairman Renato Pagud.