SOME 193 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary-families will receive free duplex-type housing units situated in Barangay Sancagulis, Bayambang, Pangasinan in time for Christmas this year.
The “Shelter Project Sheltering the homeless” is a joint project of the Mojares family from Canada, non-profit organizations (NGOs) Answering the Cry of the Poor (Ancop), Couples for Christ (CFC), Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation, Inc. (KKSBFI), and the Bayambang local government, the town's official Facebook page said.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday at a 1.9-hectare lot in Barangay Sancagulis, which signifies the start of the housing project's construction.
Resty Odon, information officer of Bayambang, in an interview Wednesday said “KKSBFI donated the lot” for the project.
“ANCOP took care of most of the funds for the housing, with each unit costing P170,000. KKSBFI, aside from providing the counterpart land donation, also shouldered the balance,” he said.
Odon added that the beneficiaries were chosen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Pantawid Pamilya team and the ANCOP-CFC.
Vice Mayor Raul Sabangan, during the groundbreaking ceremony, said, “Hindi po ito pang-karaniwang proyekto dahil ito po ay magiging lifetime o permanent na tulong natin sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan dito po sa bayan ng Bayambang (This is not an ordinary project because this will be a lifetime or permanent help to our constituents in this town who are in need).”
Mayor Cezar Quiambao, on the other hand, said the project is in line with his Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Plan.
Ancop Canada president Bro. Ricardo Cuenca, representing the Mojares family, said they provided the funds for the project “out of love for God and out of love for the poor.”
“The chosen beneficiaries will have to undergo values formation and seminars before receiving their house. The houses are set to be inaugurated on or before Christmas this year,” said Bro. Leopoldo Mendoza, CFC-Pangasinan area director. (PNA)