[ Manila Bulletin Online ] January 8, 2009
Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has turned over the final batch of houses for the PLDT-Smart "Amazing Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village" in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City at simple ceremonies attended by PLDT Cebu Zone head Elmer Lintag, Smart Public Affairs Manager for Visayas-Mindanao Jane Paredes, Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar, Cebu City Councilor Edwin Jagmoc, and Gawad Kalinga Coordinator for Cebu Danny Lagahid.
The turnover fulfills the commitment of Smart, parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), and the PLDT-Smart Foundation to deliver 100 houses for the GK Village in Cebu.
"It has taken some time and a lot of effort by our employee-volunteers and our community partnership program associates, but we’ve finally completed the 100 homes committed for GK Budlaan. This means that at least 100 families are now assured of homes and now have a fresh start on life," said Smart Public Affairs Group Head Ramon Isberto.
With the combined efforts of employee-volunteers from PLDT and Smart, members of partner schools under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) like the University of Cebu and Don Bosco Technology Center and the local community, the houses were completed.
The first batch of houses was turned over to the residents in June 2006, while the second batch of houses was completed and turned over in March 2007.
The PLDT-Smart Amazing GK Village in Budlaan is the fourth GK Village adopted by PLDT and Smart. It is located in 1.8-hectare lot donated by the Cebu City government under its housing program. The construction of the 100 houses was funded by PLDT, Smart and the PLDT-Smart Foundation.
In addition to providing homes, PLDT and Smart also initiated livelihood programs for the residents to provide them with a source of income.
"PLDT and Smart recognize the need of the residents for homes and livelihood. This is one reason why we also worked with Gawad Kalinga in coming up with projects that could serve as an additional source of income for the residents," said Smart Public Affairs Manager for Visayas-Mindanao Paredes.
In 2006, PLDT and Smart introduced the "Bags for Life" workshop, in which bag designer and weaver Lulu Ocampo trained at least five residents on bag making. A vegetable garden was also introduced to the families as a second livelihood project in 2007.
Employee-volunteers also initiated a summer storytelling program for children in the summer of 2007.
The storytelling program is an extension of Smart’s Read-to-be-Smart Project under its Adopt-A-School Program.
Storytelling sessions started by the fourth week of March and ran for five weekends. Through the program, employee-volunteers aim to impart the value of reading by instilling a love for books among the children-beneficiaries of the GK Village.
