Former Moro rebels among recipients of Gawad Kalinga houses

ILIGAN CITY -- FORMER MORO rebels in the province of Lanao del Sur were among those named beneficiaries of the 30-unit housing project built on a public land in Wao town.

The Wao project is among several projects by Gawad Kalinga for former Moro rebels and other beneficiaries.

In 2007, GK also completed housing projects in Datu Paglas in Maguindanao, Camp Abubakar in Shariff Kabunsuan and in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

GK said the houses in Wao were the product of its collaboration with the Lanao del Norte government, Iligan City government and various government agencies, including the National Power Corp. (NPC).

Based on an advisory sent to the Inquirer, the houses were to be turned over to the beneficiaries after the peace caravan that started in Davao City arrived in Wao.

In joining the project, NPC employees in Mindanao offered half of their day’s salaries to raise the P450,000 needed to build at least five houses.

Leo Nangaas, NPC team leader, said at least 75 employees also toiled during the construction of the houses for the former rebels and the other beneficiaries.

Tony Meloto, the driving force behind the Gawad Kalinga movement, praised “the relentless efforts of the high-spirited volunteers, who worked hard and sweated in building a village where Christian and Muslims co-exist in peace and harmony.”

Meloto, 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for community leadership, said other GK projects—including those in Bukidnon—had already been completed with the help of their partners.

He said the help of GK partners was expected to generate more funds for the construction of more houses.

“Gov. Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon committed another 100 units,” he said.

Meloto said Vice President Noli de Castro also visited the GK project in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon.

Aside from building houses for the beneficiaries, Meloto said GK will also teach them livelihood such as livestock production and animal breeding, crop production, food processing and aqua-culture.

“So that the villagers will become self-sufficient while living in a peaceful, healthy and clean environment,” he said.

“The more we sweat for peace the lesser we bleed for war,” he added. (By Richel Umel, INQ.net)