ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Newly installed Director General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
visited Basilan Friday to prepare for the local launching of the national event
dubbed “Bayani Challenge 2013.”
DG Jose Mari Oquiñena together with a team
from Gawad Kalinga (GK) paid a courtesy call on Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar to
discuss the housing projects for the province as part of the simultaneous
nationwide Bayani Challenge launch in 34 provinces.
Bayani Challenge is a gathering of
volunteers that give their best and work together toward the goal of expressing
love for country and caring for the poor through building homes, repairing
schools, health missions, tree planting, activities with the kids and many
more.
Its website is inviting volunteers
to help build this nation once again this March 23–27, 2013.
GK Executive Director Luis Oquiñena
explained that the Bayani Challenge project in Basilan “is in support of the
province’s peace and development efforts.” He said the Gawad Kalinga partners
have agreed to donate 30 houses for the GK site in Pamucalin, Lantawan in
Basilan.
“We hope this can be a convergence
also where local volunteers can work together. And we bring in people from
Luzon [for them] to begin [to] see the beauty of not just the people but on the
process, how you are trying to build peace,” he said.
He explained that the roadmap of
Bayani Challenge is three-fold : first, people needs to learn to work with one
another; second, working together with partners; and third, implementing local
initiatives.
DG Oquiñena stressed that the
project is “not our ordinary shelter program but a “bayanihan,” a
challenge to sustain community life in the housing site.”
GK officials said that the Bayani
Challenge launch in Basilan will be an opportunity to market Basilan as a
potential tourism destination. The GK Executive Director said that bringing in
non-government officials, especially private individuals, to Basilan will
project to the outside world a sense of safety and security in the area.
The GK team also discussed some
development projects that its partners can provide in support of the peace and
development efforts of Team Basilan.
GK chief Oquiñena further said that
he looked forward to more participation from the youth of Basilan and encouraged
local officials to involve the youth in development projects. “The youth must
do something concrete, not just stay in a weekend camp,” he said.
The project site in Lantawan will
serve as a show window, showcasing the power of volunteerism and convergence of
people to help transform lives. GK officials are optimistic that the Bayani
Challenge launching in Basilan will stand out among the 34 provinces.
After the courtesy call with the
governor, the visitors together with the Philippine Army’s 104th
Brigade Commander Col. Carlito Galvez and some mayors visited the site despite
heavy rains. They also visited the White Beach resort in Malamawi Island.
Governor Jum Akbar was thankful to GK for considering
Basilan as one of the beneficiaries of its project. (PIA9)