CAMP 8 FOLKS GET NEW FACILITY FROM CARMEN COPPER

The 2-story, P4.3-million building houses the Campo 8 Senior Citizens Association’s Office, an alternative learning center, a public library or reading center, training center for the Women’s Group for Sustainable IGPs and the barangay session hall

For years, residents of Barangay Campo 8, Toledo City endured the hot, dilapidated and cramped barangay hall to transact business.

The elderly people have always wished they could hold their activities in a comfortable and decent venue.

Campo 8 Barangay Captain Divina Cantalejo thought there must be more that the barangay can do if only they can build more facilities.

Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates the local government units to provide basic services and facilities. However, Cantalejo said, the very tight budget of the barangay could not accommodate big projects.

Carmen Copper Corp., cognizant of the needs of the barangay, turned over last June 15 a two-story multipurpose building that shall benefit the different sectors in Barangay Campo 8.

This P4.3-million edifice houses the Campo 8 Senior Citizens Association’s Office, an alternative learning center, a public library or reading center, training center for the Women’s Group for Sustainable IGPs and the barangay session hall. This could also be used as an evacuation center in cases of emergency.

A thanksgiving mass was first celebrated by Rev. Fr. Armando Orehuela, parish priest of the San Pedro Calungsod Parish, followed by the blessing of the building and the ribbon-cutting, which officially opened the facility to the public.

Carmen Copper then turned over the ownership, care and maintenance of the building to the Campo 8 Barangay Council that shall now take responsibility in maintaining and ensuring the appropriate and optimized use of the facility.

In her message, Cantalejo said that the project will improve the delivery of basic services to the residents.

Had it not been for Carmen Copper, she said, this project would not have been possible anytime sooner since the barangay’s annual budget or Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) could not permit a project this big. Campo 8 is getting an annual IRA of at least P2.4 million.

This facility is a project under the company’s Social Development and Management Program.

CONTRIBUTED FOTO DONATION. This 2-story multipurpose building in Campo 8 donated by Carmen Copper Corp. will benefit different sectors, including women, children, out-of-school youth and senior citizens.