Kapuso Village opens in Iligan

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) inaugurated the first 20 houses at the Kapuso Village in Barangay Mandulog, Iligan City last Sept. 1. 

The houses form part of GMAKF’s 160-unit housing project for families displaced by typhoon “Sendong.” 

Present during the inauguration were GMAKF EVP and COO Mel Tiangco, Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, United Nations World Food Program country director Stephen Anderson, and Mandulog barangay chairman Dianalan Pagsidan.

Representatives of Hanabishi also came to donate appliances to the 20 families who received new homes. 

“We saw the need to go beyond relief assistance and offer a more sustainable means of alleviating the condition of the typhoon victims in the area,” Tiangco said.

The housing project stands on a three-hectare property donated by the Iligan City government. The area is adjacent to the residential portion of Mandulog, which was swept away by flashfloods at the height of Sendong.

The location was deemed appropriate by the city government as it lessened adaptation concerns among the beneficiaries.

It also underwent thorough inspection by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure safety and suitability for permanent relocation.

GMAKF also built basic community facilities, including 10 new Kapuso classrooms at the Mandulog Elementary School.