Gariguez: Enlist in the housing program

MANILA, Philippines—Got nothing to do this summer? Help build homes for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday encouraged the youth to spend their summer break doing worthwhile activities like participating in the rehabilitation of disaster-stricken areas instead of going to malls.

“There are many ways for the young laity to get involved,” said Fr. Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth, in an interview on Monday.

Garganta said the youth, most of whom would be enjoying a two-month break from school, could play a big part in the rehabilitation of communities hit by back to back calamities last year, particularly in Leyte, Samar, Bohol and Zamboanga.

“Do not waste your summer vacation. Use this time to help people in need and to deepen your wisdom,” he advised students.

One of the things the youth could do this summer is to enlist in the housing program being initiated by the CBCP’s social arm, the National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa), for those affected by Yolanda in Samar and Leyte, according to its executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez.

Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons to hit land, killed more than 6,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Samar and Leyte were among the provinces hardest hit by the deadly typhoon.

“We have a housing project like that of Habitat for Humanity. So there they can volunteer to help build houses,” said Gariguez in a separate interview.

The three-year housing program aims to construct roughly 20,000 houses in the first year, he said.

“Our door is wide open for ordinary youth volunteers. This is a way to awaken their social involvement so that they won’t just spend their time going to the mall or on excursions,” said Gariguez, noting the importance of learning social commitment at a young age.

At least 10 young seminarians have signed up for the program and promised to work for about a month, he said. Construction work will start in May and will “go full blast” in June,” he added.

For those interested in helping in the construction of houses for typhoon victims, Gariguez said they may contact Garganta’s office, which in turn will coordinate with the CBCP-Nassa.