MikeLigalig.com

By June S. Blanco

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday released P1.5 million for the construction of 100 housing units for two new Gawad Kalinga (GK) sites in Bohol.

The release represents the first tranche of the P3 million from the President’s Social Fund that she committed to Gov. Erico Aumentado as her counterpart to the same amount that he prepared for the project.

Secretary and Director General Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) turned over the check to Aumentado in simple rites held at the former’s office in Malacañang.

The construction of 50 houses at the property donated by the Wong family in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Calape and another 50 units in Barangay Camambugan donated by the Sunga family in Ubay is now in full swing.
Earlier the President released P1 million and the provincial government, P1.5 million to build 35 houses for as many families whose houses and land tilled will be submerged with the operationalization of the Bayongan Dam of the Bohol Irrigation Project Stage 2 (BHIP2).

Inspired by the success of the Bayongan GK project that also tapped the private sector and the national and municipal government agencies, Aumentado leveraged P3 million to magnet an equal amount from the President.

The Gawad Kalinga Foundation headed in Bohol by Mario Ramir Yu and fully supported by the Couples for Christ (CFC) under businessman Jose “Pepe” Ong is undertaking the project.
Aumentado has one more term as governor.

“For as long as I am the governor of Bohol, I will provide at least P3 million a year to build houses – and dignity – for the poor,” he said. Groundbreaking for the Wong GK Village in Calape and the Sunga GK Village in Camambugan were held March 12 and 29 respectively.

Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that Remonde and Aumentado signed, the second tranche of P1.2 million will be released as soon as 50 percent of the job chargeable to the President’s Social Fund will be accomplished and favorable audit results have been attained.

The third tranche of P300,000 will be released upon 100 percent project completion, correction of defects/compliance with audit requirements and favorable performance and financial audit shall have been attained, as well as the submission of the terminal report, to include the submission of terminal report, among others.

Aumentado is slated to turnover the check to Yu and Ong tomorrow after the flag ceremony.
The move forms part of Aumentado’s efforts to reduce the housing backlog especially for the poor and the marginalized – in partnership with President Arroyo, the GK Foundation, CFC, government line agencies and the private sector.

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