The family of Romagos used to wake up in a makeshift hut made from bamboo, nipa and other scrap materials in Brgy. Cuambog. Herminigilda said she kept waking up at night especially during high tides and strong winds for fear that their house will get carried away along with their 4 very young children.
It’s now a different story with them having transferred at the newly built “Ang Bag-ong Malamboong Mabini Uswag GK Village” in San Antonio, Mabini. A sturdy concrete wall and landscaping, a home they can call their own. “Mawala na gyud ang akong kahadlok ani ug nindot pa gyud ang among palibot,” she said.
The place itself is breezy with the seaside just a few meters away and Nipa trees growing in a creek that runs within the village. It has 28 houses built from May 8-14, 2012 during the 9th Bayani Challenge by thousands of volunteer builders and generous donors.
The family is among the beneficiaries called “Kapitbahayan” who officially transfer on May 28 to their new homes. The turn-over was opened with a mass and a blessing of each house. After which a starter kit composed of various food supplies and house wares were also given to the families. Likewise, the items came from LGU Mabini under Mayor Hadji Amir Munoz and team builders coming from the provincial government employees, municipal LGUs and other private sectors.
Uswag GK Action officer Raul Timogtimog revealed a livelihood project will soon be in place in the village which is the Nipa shingles production. This is aside from the vegetables that will soon grow in their “Bayan-anihan” project, a garden plot which was also made possible through a farm build. Once full production is achieved, it is expected that aside from providing nutritious food on their table, these vegetables can also be sold to nearby markets. (fe maestre/ids comval)
