Homeless families receive own houses
“Malipayon ko nga ang among pamilya magpuyo na gyud sa usa ka balay. Among kaugalingong balay. Sa una man gud, sementeryo ra gyud ang nahimo namong pinuy-anan (I am happy that our family will now live in a real house. Our very own house. Carreta cemetery used to be our dwelling place),” a beaming and happy Arlene F. Ramirez shared her story.
Arlene, 32, recalled that she was two years old when her parents made the graveyard their home. Having a family of her own and watching her children grow, she promised to herself that one day, she will find a decent home for her children as she knows that graveyards are not conducive places for raising children.
Arlene is one of the 20 Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) partner-beneficiaries who now own a decent home in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.
Through the MCCT, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII has provided rent subsidy for a maximum of P4,000 per month up to 12 months.
During the house blessing, DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Grace Q. Subong could not contain her happiness seeing the 20 partner-beneficiaries occupy the house they rented through the subsidy from MCCT.
ARDO Subong thanked Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. for helping DSWD achieve its goal in addressing the problems on street-dwelling homeless families and help them rise from their situation with dignity by giving them the opportunity to change their lives.
Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. whose mission is to provide low-cost housing to the underprivileged agreed for a rent-to-own scheme for a pilot of 20 beneficiaries.
The 20 MCCT partner-beneficiaries have now the opportunity to own the house which were constructed by the Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. purposely for them.
Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. also teach them how to make chorizo in order to augment their income.
“Karon nga aduna na mi kaugalingon balay, paningkamotan namo sa akong bana nga mapadayon kini aron dili na mi mobalik sa sementeryo (Now that we have our own house, my husband and I, have to strive hard to be able to continue paying the house rental to ensure we no longer go back to the cemetery),” expressed Arlene.
Arlene juggles work and family. She makes and sells rugs, and is now learning how to make chorizo to augment the family income.
Her husband works in a company as roof installer but his income could not support the needs of the family. They have four children who all go to school.