120 Gawad Kalinga houses to be built for Sendong victims in NegOr town

SOME 120 houses will be built during the 5th Gawad Kalinga (GK) Bayani Challenge from April 9-14 in  Amlan town, Negros Oriental.

GK Bayani Challenge event head Roslyn Tambago said priority beneficiaries of the GK houses are the victims of typhoon Sendong in barangay Tambuhangin and other coastal barangays in Amlan.

The organizer expects around 2,000 local and overseas volunteers from the United States, Australia, Singapore and Cambodia to register with the program.

The GK Bayani Challenge is a five-day test of courage, endurance and love for country that Gawad Kalinga has staged annually since 2006.

Anchored on the theme “Pilipinas, Ngayon Na!,” this year’s GK Bayani Challenge is expected to gather about 10,000 volunteers.

The activity will not only focus on building houses, but also on preserving the environment through coastal cleanup, mangrove and tree planting.

During this weeklong challenge in building houses for flood victims, simultaneous activities will be held for children aged 6 to 10 years old, such as feeding program, story-telling sessions, games and sports clinic.

Tamago said public school buildings in the area will also be refurbished — including the painting of walls, garden landscaping and the repair of chairs and tables — to make schools conducive to learning.