School builds homes for illegal settlers

CEBU, Philippines -  Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Batch ’87 in partnership with Gawad Kalinga (GK) build homes for some informal settlers in Mandaue City as part of the former’s 25th homecoming celebration this coming December 29.

So far, 10 homes were already built by the said batch to add to the one house each donated by batch 1971, 1977 and the 2012 grade school students.

Jason Maurice Co, Batch ’87 GK project chairman, said that they are planning to build 17 houses (in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.

Co added that aside from these, their batch and the SHS AdC Alumni association was able to construct the P600,000 worth multi-purpose hall that was inaugurated yesterday.

The lot with a total area of 3,653 square meters is donated by the Mandaue City government as a counterpart of this project.

Jerome Awit, head of Gawad Kalinga-Cebu province, said that a total of 84 houses will be constructed on the site and they are still looking for more partners and donors.

Occupants in the said project will have to pay a minimal amount to the City Government as payment for the lot but the house is for free although the unit cost is about P115,000.00.

Awit explained that as a matter of policy, house occupants have to contribute sweat equity by helping building his or her own house and will have to attend trainings and other value-oriented seminars.

Edward Liu, president of SHS AdC Alumni Association, is appealing to their fellow alumnae to support and donate some of their financial resources and achieve the goal of changing the life of a person by providing him or her a better home.

“Bisan chip-in chip-in lang. We encourage our fellow alumnae to help and support this very worthy endeavor of changing the lives of others by helping our poor people, having their own home,” Liu said.

John Alex Daytian, Batch ’87 chairman, said that this is the first time that SHS-Batch is participating with a non-government agency for a homecoming celebration.

“We decide on doing something that would be sustainable, something that would show our appreciation for all the blessings that we have received the past years that would live up to the ideals of the school of being Men and Women for Others. With this project, we hope to serve as catalysts of change on how homecomings are celebrated,” said Daytian in a press statement.

Businessman Jay Aldeguer, Batch ’87 co-chairman, said that they choose a project of building homes because they wanted to do their share in changing lives not only of individuals but their families as well.

The group also conducted a medical mission wherein a total of 300 beneficiaries, 150 of them children,  within the community benefitted from the various services they offered.- JPM (FREEMAN)