GK to build more houses; cops, soldiers next beneficiaries
The Gawad Kalinga (GK) aims to address 70 percent of the country's housing problem, gearing to build 74,000 houses for policemen and 100,000 for soldiers in the future. It also plans to build homes for teachers, media practitioners and the low-income earners.
Antonio Meloto, chairman of GK, said 40 percent of the Filipinos are landless and without homes. He said GK would like to help the government in putting an end to the illegal squatting and landless problems.
He said, GK is also considering to include members of the media in the worthwhile project. Meloto said there are famous media personalities who do not own a house. He particularly made mention of the television cameramen, who are the possible recipients of the GK project.
In Iloilo City alone, the GK has already built a number of houses. The lots where the houses are built are either in relocation sites or donated by private groups. GK projects are also visible in the municipalities of Concepcion and Barotac Viejo.
GK has been involved in the several projects in the city's different relocation sites. On November 19, GK will also start to build 100 houses courtesy of a telecommunication company and another 130 houses in the land donated by the Archbishop of Jaro.
Meloto, who is originally from Fundidor, Molo was in Iloilo City for the 1st National Convention of the Fraternal Order of Utopia. The Fraternal Order of Utopia also donated two houses to the GK. GK and the Fraternal Order of Utopia are partners in the housing project. Half of the members of the fraternity is already involved in the GK.
Meloto said the local government's help in the success of the GK project is very important. He said the help of each local government unit is very critical as he cited the important role of his fellow Utopian Mayor Jerry Treñas in the housing project.
Meloto said they are not only providing houses but also livelihood to the poor people. "We want to give them the chance to live," he said.
He said, GK envisions that in few years time no more Ilonggos will live on shanties and on the river banks.
In Guimaras, the GK is also set to extend help to residents affected by the oil spill disaster. The group will enter the areas as soon as the relief operation and the siphoning of the remaining industrial fuel oil in the compartments of the sunken MT Solar 1 is over.
Meloto said they will come in the picture after all the "picture taking" is over and when the poor people are forgotten. "Masulod lang kami kon nalipatan na ang mga pigado." They are thinking of building concrete houses for the people in Guimaras.
The plan, however needs the clearance from the municipal government and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as they are planning to transfer the families few meters away from the shoreline. A group of Filipinos who are now based in Australia will help in the project. The recipients will also be given cottage industry or other means of livelihood where they can go either in fishing or in agriculture , said Meloto.