by Grace Almedilla
Compostela Valley Province (15 December) - The DSWD CSAP USWAG- Gawad Kalinga Village composed of one hundred sixteen (116) colorful houses has been turned-over to the Kapitbahayan ready for occupancy of the Masara landslide victims on December 5, 2009.
It can be recalled that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended to the provincial government a P7.5 Million budget for this undertaking through its Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP). More than a hundred of volunteer groups from the different sectors of the province and other cities and provinces came together for a weeklong Bayani Build for such 116 houses that started on October 23 until October 30, 2009. Per record, it was the 3rd Bayani Challenge held in the Brgy. Kinuban, Maco.
The Thanksgiving & Turn-over Ceremony started with an Eucharistic Celebration followed with a short program. Along with the turn-over of the whole village with the presence of the prime movers, partners, builders, and guests, was the turn-over also of a check worth Five Hundred Thousand (P500,000) for its water system. The check coming from the APEX Mines Corporation was handed by Mr. Ferdinand G. Agustin, the Vice President/ Resident Manager.
Facilitating the turn-over of the GK houses were DSWD Under Secretary Ruel Lucentales, DSWD Regional Director Ester Acebedo Versoza, CESO II, Governor Arturo T. Uy, Mayor Arthur Carlos Voltaire Rimando of Maco, Engr. Arnold L. Maloloy-on of GK ComVal, Congresswoman Thelma Almario of Davao Oriental, Mayor Pedro Mejos of Banay-banay, Davao Oriental, and Mr. Joe Yamamoto, the International Director of the Couples For Christ (CFC).
USec Lucentales revealed that from among the more than 30,000 shelter projects extended by DSWD-CSAP, they find the USWAG CSAP GK Village as the most beautiful and durable despite of the little budget for each house.
Another highlight of the program was the turn-over of another check worth P2.5 Million handed by the DSWD to the provincial government for the construction of Bahay Pag-Asa, a shelter intended for the abandoned/ street children in the province. The planned location will be at the Brgy. Sta. Maria of Nabunturan, the province's capital town and it will be managed by the provincial government through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) headed by Ms. Josephine M. Frasco. (ids comval)