By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The
Isabela Water District (ISAWAD) and the Basilan Rotary Club has completed the
model house for the Gawad Kalinga housing project in Pamucalin Village,
Lantawan town, Basilan.
It was the first completed house of the
thirty houses that are being constructed at Pamucalin site.
ISAWAD General Manager and Vice-President of
the Basilan Rotary Club Alelie Almodovar said that the organization immediately
responded to the invitation of Team Basilan and Gawad Kalinga to take part in
the housing project.
“More than building the house, we also
believe that we can contribute in building a community of peace by assisting to
build homes to the poorest of the poor for the betterment of the society,”
Almodovar said.
She said that with the help of some personnel
in the water district and the members of the Rotary Club, they were able to
complete the house in just a few weeks with the support of the military who
assisted the team with transportation.
“It’s always the commitment of ISAWAD and
Rotary Club to community service,” she noted, adding that the construction team
only goes to the site on Saturdays.
Kohlee Calzada, Gawad Kalinga project
coordinator said that the project is part of the ongoing Bayani Challenge 2013
which was launched nationwide last March 23-27, 2013 in Lantawan with some 500
volunteers. The project, he said, is a yearly activity of Gawad Kalinga.
Calzada said GK values its partners because
the projects could not be accomplished without them.
“We are lucky that we have ISAWAD and Rotary
as our partners in this development program,” he said.
Calzada hopes that the project will contribute
to peace building in this part of the island. He invited ISAWAD and the Rotary
to continue to support the project even after the turnover of the model house
last May 17.
Meanwhile, Gov. Jum Akbar thanked the donors
and partners in completing the GK project in Pamucalin and hopes that more and
more groups and organizations will extend support and assistance for the
completion of the 30 housing units. (PIA9)