MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Aug. 31 (PNA) — Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes led city officials and employees in helping build over the weekend a multi-purpose building for residents of a socialized housing site in Barangay Tipolo, this city.
Cortes said this symbolized the city’s commitment to a “transformation program” through team work.
Private partners and non-government organizations (NGOs) also lent a hand in building the hall for residents of Lower Tipolo Homeowners’ Association Inc. Village.
“This is our contribution. No matter how small, it makes a difference,” said Cortes.
Cortes joined the chain of volunteers passing hollow blocks and other building materials from one hand to another.
The city and its private partners also offered free consultation and medical and dental services to the residents, who were formerly informal settlers.
Other services include a job fair, livelihood training and free haircut.
The staff of the Mandaue City Public Library and students of the Mandaue City College also held story-telling sessions with the children.
Dubbed “Panagtagbo” (encounter), the activity was held as part of the City’s 46th Charter Day celebration, which culminated Sunday.
P-Green Philippines, a technology firm, donated solar panels for the multi-purpose building while the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, an NGO, provided the facility to create “interlocking compressed earth blocks.”
Volunteers also worked together to create a 120-sqare meter children’s playground. (PNA)