Go backs OFW village project in Kidapawan

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Overseas Filipino Workers village in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last week.

Initiated by the National Housing Authority, the OFW Village is a housing project intended for the homeless, landless and underprivileged OFWs living in Kidapawan City who were greatly affected by the 2019 earthquakes.

The housing project can generate up to 181 lots with an average lot size of 120 sq. meters (10mx12m).

As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, Go said the government recognizes the sacrifices of OFWs to uplift their families’ living conditions.

Moreover, Go stressed the need to provide them with support through housing opportunities, especially to those whose families were affected by various crises and calamities.

Go also filed Senate Bill (SB) 203, which aims to provide continuous funding support to implement the major components of the National Development and Production Housing Program to make decent housing available and affordable for Filipinos in need.

He also filed SB 1227 which will provide rental subsidy for displaced families during the interim process of construction of their permanent housing and relocation.

In his speech during the event last May 12, Go reassured the families, who were displaced by earthquakes and other disasters, that they have a government committed to helping them get back on their feet as they rebuild their homes and reestablish their livelihood.

During the ceremony in Barangay Kalaisan, Go’s team also handed out meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 68 households, composed of 32 OFW families and 36 other beneficiaries displaced by mud floods and fire incidents, while strictly observing health and safety protocols against Covid-19.

The team gave new pairs of shoes and walking aids, such as canes, crutches and wheelchairs, to those in need. They also provided bicycles, while others received computer tablets for use in blended learning setup.