Monsanto, GK complete final phase of Monsanto Village in Iloilo

As part of the shelter recovery efforts in areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda and Typhoon Ruby, Monsanto Philippines, Inc. and Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GK) officially turned over 24 more permanent shelter units in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, Iloilo.    

Monsanto Philippines and Gawad Kalinga officially turned over the remaining housing units to identified family-beneficiaries in Sara, Iloilo. Present during the turn-over were (from left to right) GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquinena, Vice Mayor of Sara Neptali Salcedo Jr.,Vice Mayor-elect Jesus Salcedo,Monsanto-GK Village President Hadjie Balome,housing beneficiary Liza Lacival,housing beneficiary Josie Grapa,land owner Ruth Tirol Jarantilla,Monsanto Philippines Country Commercial Lead Rachel Lomibao, and Monsanto Philippine Corporate Engagement Lead Charina Garrido-Ocampo

Monsanto Philippines Country Lead Rachel Lomibao, together with GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquiñena and key representatives from the Municipality of Sara led by Mayor-elect Ermelita Salcedo and Vice Mayor-elect Jesus Salcedo, led the official housing turnover to the selected beneficiaries. 

“Almost three years after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, access to safe shelter and sustainable livelihoods remain a challenge among communities that were hardest hit by the calamity. As in any other recovery effort, we see it important to ensure that these communities have the solid foundation to start anew and the resilience to withstand future shocks from the environment,” Lomibao said. 

The turnover was the second phase of the Monsanto-GK housing initiative in Iloilo. The first phase of the housing project, which comprised 30 core shelter units, was first completed last February 2015. There are now 54 completed housing units in the village, benefiting a total of 232 families.

According toGK Executive Director Luis Oquinena, each housing unit is disaster-resilient that can withstand strong winds of possible super typhoons in the future. The housing project is also a holistic approach towards development of the community’s overall well-being as it incorporates livelihood development programs and values formation training.