A two-kilometer asphalted road network was inauguarated in a Gawad Kalinga (GK) village in a province-owned lot in barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla town, yesterday.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia led the inauguration of the P2-million road network.
Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the two-kilometer asphalted road is part of the road network that Capitol is funding.
Pelayre said the total land area of the GK site is 8.4 hectares. Phase I covering 5.5 hectares is being developed with 520 housing units scheduled for completion.
Thomas and Garcia also turned over a symbolic key to 10 new beneficiaries of the GK houses in Minglanilla town.
Five of these beneficiaries formerly occupied a lot at the National Food Authority (NFA) along the Banilad- Talamban road while the other five used to live in a lot in Sudlon, Lahug, where the present Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is located.
One of the beneficiaries, 27-year-old Josefa Palmer, said she is thankful that she is one of the beneficiaries, a sentiment shared by 27-year-old beneficiary Francisca Buhay.
GK-Cebu Community Organizer Boy Dela Cerna said the GK site in Minglanilla is by far the biggest in the province.
They are also planning livelihood programs like urban gardening for the settlers.
Lexmark Philippines is targeting to build 150 houses for the site.
The USS Russell sailors and the GK volunteers laid cement blocks for the new houses they are building.
Thomas, Garcia and Minglanilla Vice Mayor Elanito “Lani” Alidon Pena, and Lexmark heads planted their own nangka trees in the GK site. Garcia hosted a luncheon for Thomas and his delegation at the Capitol’s Social Hall yesterday.
In his speech Thomas said he was pleased on how the province and Cebu City welcomed him and his delegation.
Thomas said their arrival in Cebu is to show US cooperation to the Philippines.
Thomas also said the US and the Philippines is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty this month. “We will continue to work with you,” he said. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus