GK turns over 8 houses in Naga

CEBU, Philippines -  Eight families from Naga City received yesterday the key to their new homes at the housing project of Gawad Kalinga (GK) in Barangay Tina-an.  

GK Cebu head Toby Florendo said that before the families received the big “key” as the symbol for the turnover of the houses, they were able to extend their sweat equity, as one of the major requirement of the GK housing project. 

Florendo said that several families submitted letters of intent to be beneficiaries of the housing project but only passed the background information. 

“Our target is the poorest of the poor. We check them if wala ba gyud sila’y yuta until we came up with these eight families,” Florendo said. 

According to Florendo, the families will not pay a single centavo.

 The GK, along with other partners, will also be constructing another 70-structures intended for 70 families. 

In 2012, the City of Naga, Gawad Kalinga, and Apo Cemex Phils. entered a memorandum of agreement for the city’s first socialized housing project.

Under the contract, Apo Cemex will donate 18,000 square meters of its property in Barangay Tinaan where GK will build houses.

The MOA also states that Naga City government will construct roadways, drainage systems, and other facilities for the new community.

Jesie Lapuz, 41, who has been living with her sister-in-law and is one of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the city government and GK and their partners for funding the construction, as well as to the volunteers who helped build their houses.

“Nindot gyud kaayo ang among kabalhinan ug mao ni ang among pamasko sa among pamilya. Dili gyud ni posible kung wala ang tabang sa Gawad Kalinga, City Government ug labaw sa tanan gikan sa Ginoo,” Lapuz said. 

The turnover ceremony was attended by city administrator Arthur Villamor, who represented Mayor Valdemar Chiong, Cemex Vice President on Human Resources Gina Eala and LBC Foundation Head Nena Wuthrich. —ATO (FREEMAN)