The construction of the Gawad Kalinga Village in Purok Riverside, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City will start on Easter Sunday, (March 23), GK provincial head Roberto Magalona said yesterday.

“This is the best way for the residents in the area to celebrate the coming of our Lord,” he said. The area is about five hectares involving close to 600 families, he added.

The site was donated by Sta. Clara Subdivision to the city during the Montelibano administration for compliance of an open space and the city allowed it to be used for a GK project, Magalona said.

The GK yesterday received a P1 million check from former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., taken from his congressional fund, specifically for the GK projects in Bacolod City, he said. Magsaysay had also given over P6 million to  several municipalities and towns in Negros for the construction of  GK villages, he said.

Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the city has an appropriation of P800,000for  right  of way work in Purok Riverside. But since there is no longer a need for that, the city will revert the fund to the GK with the approval of  Mayor Evelio Leonardia, he said. There is also a request from GK for P4.9 million for site development, he added.

They will use a big chunk of the P1 million from Magsaysay and the budget from the city for the site development because the area in Purok Riverside is low and becomes flooded, Magalona said.

“I want to assure the senator and the city that whatever they have given will be multiplied many times over because many Bacoleños and Negrenses really want to help the city move forward,” Magalona said. They have also received commitments from their partners worth more than  P30 million for the building of houses and  site development, he added.

Magalona thanked the officials headed by Leonardia and Sayson for their support, adding that they look forward to expanding the GK work in other areas of the city.

Convergys is allocating P1 million for a youth training center and program for GK and they have recommended  Purok Riverside, which is close to their call center, since there is a huge population of young people there that they can train, Magalona said.

Other GK villages in Bacolod City are located in Magsungay, Abada-Escay and Kabugwason, including the ERH-GK in Sum-ag, which is considered a model GK village.*CGS

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