By Emil G. Gamos
ANGAT, Bulacan, (PNA) — Vice President and national housing czar Jejomar Binay on Saturday said that despite the armed conflicts and other controversies hounding the country, the Philippines will always stand firm and survive all crisis due to the resiliency and spirit of bayanhian of its people.
Binay made the statement during the opening of Gawad Kalinga Expo at the GK Enchanted Kingdom in Barangay Engkanto here on Saturday morning.
Thousands of delegates from various sectors from different parts of the country converged at the farming village of Barangay Engkanto as they joined the 10th founding Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation at the GK Enchanted Farm here.
A five- day social business summit and the opening of the GK Expo highlighted the occasion along with the opening of the Malaysian-based Berjaya Culinary Center.
Binay , who was the event’s guest of honor, hailed the success of Gawad Kalinga describing the occasion as “a conference of action-oriented” groups.
“Here, we can see hope that the Philippines will improve through proper supervision,” Binay said.
The Vice President also disclosed that it was Gawad Kalinga’s Antonio “Tony” Meloto who encouraged him to accept the national housing czar portfolio when President Benigno Aquino offered him a an assignmet.
He said Meloto told him to accept it because the latter believes that the vice president can help in ending poverty through self-reliance and the bayanihan spirit.
Binay said that Gawad Kalinga’s projects is a “laboratory of ideas, transforming ideas into reality.”
He said that Meloto’s optimism only shows that “small is beautiful but long lasting, ” adding that big dreams becomes real with small steps and concerted efforts of volunteers.
The homes at the Enchanted Farm were built by volunteers from big companies, students and other volunteer groups.
It is now one of the most visited self-sustaining communities in Bulacan.
Meloto, for his par, t said that of all the people in the world the bayanihan traits of the Filipino in helping one another has made the race “beautiful” to the eyes of the world.
“If you have not been to the Enchanted Farm, you have never been in the Philippines,” Meloto said adding that the Enchanted Farm is one of the housing programs that could attract some 200,000 visitors a year, thus boosting the local tourism industry and creating job oppurtinities to the community of poor people who now have a home of their own.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the province of Bulacan is blessed and proud that the self-sustaining community housing project of Gawad Kalinga is in the province.
“These community projects aimed at ending poverty through the proper use of nature’s bounty is attracting more local and foreign investors and only shows that the province of Bulacan is now fast becoming a most business-friendly province in the country,” Alvarado said.
The governor congratulated GK Community Development Foundation on the endeavors and in their goal of ending poverty by building sustainable communities.
“These are model housing projects that are completed with schools, livelihood and other programs that enriched the capabilities of those citizens who are living here,” he said.
“Let us remind the developers of housing projects in the province to coordinate first with the provincial and local executives to ensure the livelihood of those people who are transferring here will improve,” he added.