Daanbantayn Mayor Augusto Coro with former Gawad Kalinga Jerome Awit and Jose Mari Oquinena, director general, Philippines Information Agency, military and together with volunteers lead the pouring of cement at the reconstruction of damaged municipal hall building to demonstrate the Bayani Challenge in Daanbantayan town Cebu.(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Gawad Kalinga (GK) is planning to mobilize 8,000 volunteers in the five-day Bayani Challenge to be held in Daanbantayan town, one of the towns devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda in northern Cebu.
The GK-Cemex housing project, one of the highlights of the Bayani Challenge kicked off yesterday. The official start of the project had to be deferred because of delays in the acquisition of the two-hectare lot where the 130 houses would be built.
Red tape
Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro blamed bureaucratic red tape for the delay in the land purchase.
He said the budget is ready, but the actual construction has yet to start since they are still in the process of acquiring a two-hectare land for the housing project in barangay Poblacion.
Also, they are still processing the documents required for the building of the houses which will cost P125,000 each.
“It was last December when we submitted it to the budget committee of the municipal council. There was no action taken until I sent a letter of urgency last February,” said Corro.
Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis also blamed the delay on the majority of the members of the municipal council budget committee whom he claimed “gave a lot of excuses” not to approve it.
They withdrew the papers for the land purchase from the committee and passed a resolution presenting the documents to the council for second and final reading.
Corro sees the completion of the land purchase by end May.
Other groups also have housing projects in the town.
In barangay Agujo, 75 houses are constructed. In barangay Paypay, the groundbreaking for 128 housing units was held.
There are also 300 onsite repairs being done by Philippine Red Cross.
However, Corro said all these projects comprise only 25 percent of the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 houses that need to be relocated out of no-build zone areas.
Bayani Challenge activities include Paraisong Pambata, a two-day event for children, repair of schools, coastal clean-up, Zumba dance sessions and livelihood and skills training.
“We still have to clean the surroundings, this requires a big number of volunteers. We also appreciate the presence of the army who can help us in our clearing operations,” said Corro.
Jose Mari Oquiñena, director-general of the Philippine Information Agency who used to head the GK, said the Bayani Challenge does not only rehabilitate the town but also reaffirms the people’s confidence on themselves and with their fellowmen.
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