Army joins GK Provincial Bayani Challenge 2012

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — “Not just soldiers but builders and heroes.”

This was how Romeo Caisug, project director of Gawad Kalinga, commended the soldiers of the 802nd Infantry Brigade and the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion who volunteered in the Provincial Bayani Challenge held at sitio Magocdoc in Brgy. Quezon of this city last week.

“This place was once a battle ground of the communist rebels and government forces, but now the Goodland GK Village established here is hope for the homeless constituents. Thanks to Gawad Kalinga, the donor, soldiers and volunteers of this Provincial Bayani Challenge 2012,” Causig said.

For five days of endurance and volunteerism, the soldiers and some 250 participants worked to build decent houses to the projected 30 recipients of the GK housing program. They were able to build five duplex-type houses within the period.

Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district, Leyte), during the closing rites of the Challenge, lauded the military and the volunteers for their work in building the houses for the beneficiaries of Brgy. Quezon.

She also thanked Nicholas Pongos, the donor, and Manuel Virtudazo, head of Gawad Kalinga-Leyte, for the housing project for her constituents in the barangay, as she pledged support for five of the 30 housing units slated there.

Lieutenant Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac, commander of the 19th IB based in Kananga, Leyte, said the Team Commando has been assisting the Gawad Kalinga Foundation since 2010 when the 3rd Provincial Bayani Challenge was launched in Isabel, Leyte.

From hauling of materials to building of houses, the 19th IB has stood on its commitment of “Serving the people, securing the land,” said Nacnac.

“One moral lesson that we can acquire from the Challenge is the spirit of cooperation or ‘bayanihan,’ which I believed was internalized by the participants who effortlessly ventured on building houses for the homeless,” he added. —contributed by CMOO 1st Lt. (FREEMAN)