Yolanda-hit fisherfolk get 40 new houses

DONORS and recipients of 40 housing units in the Manny O. Gawad Kalinga village in Madridejos, Cebu pose for a photo during the recent award ceremony. Gawad Kalinga’s Tony Meloto and Manny Osmeña of the Manny O. Group are among those at center. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines–Forty housing units were turned over recently by HopeNow Philippines, the nonprofit arm of the Manny O. Group, to the fisherfolk families who were affected by last year’s Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the town of Madridejos, Cebu.

This new housing settlement for disaster victims, named “Manny O-GK Village,” is part of the Yolanda [Haiyan] Rebuild Program, a joint housing project of HopeNow Philippines and Gawad Kalinga which aims to build 160 houses in four different provinces that were devastated by the recent calamities, HopeNow and Gawad Kalinga said in a press statement.

HopeNow Philippines is a charitable foundation of the Manny O. Group formed to pursue the vision of providing hope to every Filipino who has lost hope due to circumstances outside their control.

Headed by Manny Osmeña, the Manny O. Group is the conglomerate behind the Ibiza Beach Club in Cebu, the Mövenpick Hotel Mactan, and the Manny O. Wines.

“Ultimately, God is the one that you need to thank for these new houses. He is the one who provided the resources that enabled our company to extend help to you,” Osmeña said during the turnover ceremony.

He added: “All that we can do is to give you help in terms of housing and livelihood. It is up to you to work hard and make your dreams a reality. I hope this is just the beginning for you and your family. Today, you have received your own house. Tomorrow, your kids can build their own palace.”

The founder of Gawad Kalinga, Tony Meloto, also graced the ceremony. “What you received today is not just a new house; it is a new sense of dignity as persons. You have been given an opportunity in life and a hope for a better future,” Meloto told beneficiaries.

In partnership with Gawad Kalinga, HopeNow Philippines also funded the construction of 40 houses each in Madridejos, Cebu; Alang-alang, Leyte; Sagbayan, Bohol; and Hernani, Samar. The projects are expected to be completed by the end of March 2015.

Aside from building houses for disaster victims, HopeNow Philippines is currently preparing to launch “Hospital on Wheels,” a project that would help address the unmet health needs of disaster victims and vulnerable people.