Saturday, May 27, 2006

Gawad Kalinga Leads Typhoon Rehab Efforts

by: Perseus Echeminada - Philippine Star
12/08/2004

The tragedy befell typhoon-stricken provinces has rekindled the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos.

At the helm is Gawad Kalinga, which is conducting the rehabilitation effort in typhoon affected areas in Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Mindoro provinces in coordination with the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD) and other government agencies.

Gawad Kalinga, or GK, which was tasked by the President Arroyo to lead the rehabiliation effort has started massive fundraising campaign to help the victims of the calamities rebuild their shattred lives the Kalinga way.

"We have recieved pledges for typhoon victims all over the world," Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga director said. GK, ABS-CBN, The STAR, Ateneo de Manila University, Couples for Christ make up the core group that is now working out an action plan that will rebuild devastated communities and restore homes, dreams and dignity of calamity.

GK, is a movement founded by Couples for Christ volunteers five years ago, has been building low cost houses for the poor communities in various parts of the county.

The group is a growing multisectoral partnership with a vision to address the slum problem in the metropolis.

Most of the benefactors of the GK are big companies and donors from all over the world, particularly the US.

The group recently launched "GK777" which stands for building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in the Philippines in the next seven years."

GK is not only a work of charity, but a mission of nation building and crusade for all Filipinos. It involves every sector of society," Meloto said.

Beneficiaries of GK homes help in the construction of other homes as part of the so-called sweat collateral, which they contribute to the mission.

Apart from low cost housing, GK also undertakes livelihood skills and assistance programs and medical missions. Terence M. Grana, GK coordinator in Quezon City, said that with the rise of GK homes, slmus are disappearing with rich and poor, Muslims and Christians government and the private sector building communities together."

The poor are re-discovering their dreams, and are being empowred to build a better future for their families," Grana said.

(Gawad) Kalinga Housing to Rise in Quezon City

By Perseus Echeminada The Philippine Star 09/02/2004 http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200409026303.htm

The Quezon City government signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday with four private and non-government organizations to promote the Kalinga housing projects.

The city, under the administration of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will be working with ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., Ateneo de Manila University and the Gawad Kalinga Community Foundation Inc. to provide low-cost housing for poor families in the city.

Belmonte, along with Ateneo de Manila president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, ABS-CBN Foundation managing director, ABS-CBN president Luis Alejandro and Gawad Kalinga executive director Antonio Meloto, signed the agreement that calls for a concerted effort between the city government and the private sector to provide housing for the needy.

Belmonte described the Kalinga projects, which will initially target 100 homeless families in Barangay Ruby, as a project of faith.

"It's a project of faith, faith in the Filipino, faith that we can get our act together, faith that people from every segment of society including the privileged are willing to go down into the mud in order to help their fellow men," the mayor said.

He said the entry of the private groups is a giant step forward because the project will be assured of sustainability, which is what is lacking in some pro- poor programs being pursued by other groups.

The agreement provides the inventory and classification of Galing Kalinga projects, the identification and selection of beneficiaries, and the mobilization of other groups, civic, religious, private corporations and individuals in generating funds and support for the projects.

Terence M. Grana, Gawad Kalinga coordinator, said the beneficiaries of the housing project will not have to shell out cash and instead participate in the construction of houses for other beneficiaries.

"We call this sweat collateral, wherein the recipient will work for a certain number of hours equivalent to the cost of his unit," Grana said.

The (Gawad) Kalinga housing projects have been set up in Manila, Cagayan de Oro and other pilot areas in the country.

In Quezon City, the Payatas and Ruby areas near the La Mesa Dam are among the priority areas.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

11.30.2004 First National Build in GK Ruby

caretaker team members of GK Ruby Phase 2

prospective beneficiaries


Tony Meloto, Cito Alejandro and Fr. Ben Nebres answer questions from media people


Luis Oquinena, GK National Director


ladies in the chapel


Cito Alejandro


Wennie Cordero



GK Ruby Phase 1 Project Director Willie Bagsarsa poses with his cluster head (of North B 1) at the entrance arch of Sitio Ruby during the Indonesian Build on January 3, 2006.

Monday, May 15, 2006

GK Kapamilya (Ruby)

Fr. Bienvenido Nebres of the Ateneo de Manila University gives the invocation during the Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony on September 8, 2004

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte gives an inspirational talk to the signatories of the MOA



True-blue nationalists paying respect to the Philippine flag during the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.

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