Informal settlers get house and lot

ISLAND Garden City of Samal -- In a bid to alleviate the lives of informal settlers and homeless citizens of Samal Island, the local government unit of Samal Island through its City Housing Division turned over 10 duplex type houses to 20 family beneficiaries of Barangay Cogon on January 12, 2018 at Purok 8, Barangay Cogon, Babak District.

The project is in cooperation with National Government Organization through Gawad Kalinga Foundation and private partnership with Federal Land Inc.

The project intends to adopt the comprehensive and holistic approach of Gawad Kalinga Foundation of building houses and decent homes that includes strategies for transformation of people and community empowerment. The strategy also includes programs on values formation; environment protection; provision of support to the poorest of the poor; and strengthen the existing systems on the implementation of housing program for the homeless and underprivileged constituents in Samal Island.

During the turnover of the houses, electric and water supply and other basic facilities and services were also installed.

“Wala ko katulog kagabii sa kalipay, maamoa na ang balay. Wala mi’y kaugalingong balay ug yuta. Sauna nag puyo ra mi luna nga dili amoa. (I was so excited the night before that I was not able to get some sleep. We do not have our own house and lot and now we will finally have one. Before we used to live on land that was not ours)," said Marceta Marcelino, 48 years old, married with 3 children from Purok 7.

The family beneficiaries were required to transfer after seven days upon the turnover of the houses. They were also reminded that married children of the beneficiaries were not allowed to stay with them.

“New house, new family, one community, everyone should understand and respect one another to avoid chaos," said Luduig Von Gervacio, Association of Barangay Council (ABC) President and Barangay Captain of Cogon, in his closing remarks. Emma Recalde/Samal Info.