COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE— Another series of blessing and turnover ceremony happened on September 5, 2016 for a total of 104 houses built through “bayanihan” of the different “Uswag-Gawad Kalinga Villages” under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the three municipalities of the province.
The recipient municipalities are Maco with a total of 30 houses, located at Barangay Langgam; Mabini with an initial of 44 out of 60 houses that were formally turned over at Barangay San Antonio; and 30 houses for Pantukan located in Poblacion.
The turnover ceremonies were led by Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Ms. Raquel Nuñez- Protective Services Unit Head DSWD Region XI, Mr. Rene Rieta- GK Southern Mindanao Head, District-II Board Member Vevencia L. Secuya, Mr. Edwin Carmelotes – GK Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Raul Timogtimog-GK Action Officer, Mayors and Barangay Captains as well as officials of said recipient Barangays.
“Dako kaayo ang among pasalamat sa DSWD nga ang mga balay nagtindog na…kay kaning mga balaya baliwala lang kung motindog nga walay pagtinabangay, walay paghigugma sa matag usa labi na gyud sa sulod sa panimalay,” said Nuñez.
Governor Uy also challenged the beneficiaries in his message saying, “We will make this place as peaceful as possible and I need your cooperation through your organization to support the programs of the GK in this village.”
He was grateful to the livelihood program of the DSWD that will help beneficiaries in their daily needs. “Dili kani mahimong posible kung wala ang atung pag tinabangay ug panaghiusa,” said Gov. Uy.
According to Rieta those who live in the GK villages will not be called as beneficiaries because they are considered as the GK partners.
“We call you ‘partners’ because we are hoping that you are going to help the province in the implementation of the building of houses through GK,” said Rieta.
He stressed further that GK is not only on building houses but it’s a community development program through livelihood, health and education, and the community, as a whole.
Johnamar Flipper Cabiluna, one of the beneficiaries said that “I am very thankful that as a volunteer worker I am one of the beneficiaries of the MSAP GK and I guarantee that we will take care of this for the rest of our lives,” she said.
A “Certificate of Occupancy” was also given to beneficiaries and at present, an additional 5,862 housing units for the 4th Tranche will be constructed all over the province, still under DSWD’s MSAP. (IDS Comval)