GK Lopue Legacy Village

Introduction

Gawad Kalinga (GK) Lopue Legacy Village is one of the 40 GK Villages in Negros Occidental. The 2 hectare parcel of land was donated by Inocentes de la Rama, Inc. to the City of Bago for the sole purpose of a socialized housing project with Gawad Kalinga Foundation and its GK beneficiaries. The donation was formalized when the parties concerned entered into an agreement on November 10, 2008 in the City of Bago. through the Couples for Christ, serving as the first caretaker, organizing work began in 2008.

Initially, the University of St. La Salle was invited to participate in to participate in the volunteer work in the site through build activities involving students and faculty of the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

The engagement of the University with Gawad Kalinga in Bago City became much bigger when in 2010, the officers of GK Negros Occidental chapter requested the institution to be its caretaker. As caretaker the University assumes the tasks of reorganizing the community, establishing the community association, building the capacity of the members and leaders and working with them in the establishment of the different programs responding to their expressed needs and concerns.

The first awarding of houses took place in January 2012, with the Arimas Family and Maden Family moving in to their new home. May of the same year, additional 5 Houses were awarded to the follwing families: Rubin, Aloy, Aliasgo, Larombe and Pineda. The Third Awarding took place September 2013, 3 Housing Units were awarded to the following Families: Guion, Panaguiton and Francisco.

During the 3rd Awarding, Bago City Vice Mayor Yulo hands the key to Jessie & Ma. Luz Guion. Photo Retrieved from www.usls.edu.ph

Also in September 2013, the Community Center/Multi-Purpose Hall was blessed. Funding of this structure came from the Angelo King Foundation. The Community Center serves as venue for meetings, community gatherings, Mass, and other needs of the community.

As of the moment, the seven (7) programs of Gawad Kalinga are implemented:

1. Community Infrastructure Program - building colorful and sturdy homes. As of publish date, 10 Housing Units were awarded to 10 qualified partner beneficiaries.

The Arimas Family, one of the first family to get a new house in GK Lopue.

The Penida Family, recipient of one of the houses during the second awarding. Their house is funded by the Organization of Non-Teaching & Office Personnel (ONTOP) of USLS.

USLS Students helping in the construction work in GK Lopue.

2. Productivity/Livelihood - creating opportunities for income generation and food security. As of the moment, the following are the livelihood programs being implemented in the community:
                                     *Humayan (Rice) Project
                                     *Gulayan (Vegetable Garden) Project
                                     *Quail Egg Production
                                     *Food Products (Atchara, Banana Chips, Baye-Baye & Kalamay Hati)

Family Vegetable Garden

KB Members undergoing Sustainable Livelihood Seminar Workshop.

KB Members during harvest time.

3. Health (Gawad Kalusugan) - this involves activities aimed towards increasing the awareness of the community on preventive health and how to access health services.

USLS College of Nursing Faculty conducts Health Teaching Session at GK Lopue

4. Green Kalinga (Environment) - This involves activities aimed to mitigate, if not to prevent, the effects of global warming such as tree growing, waste segregation and management, Seminars on Environmental Care, Vermicomposting/Vermicast, and paper charcoal briquette technology.

CBA Faculty & Students during their Tree-Growing Activity.

5. Child & Youth Development Program (CYDP) - activities and services for the development of the kids and youth groups of the community: the Sibol for the 3-6 years old, the SAGIP for the 7-12 years old and the SIGA for the youth group.

A Balayan Volunteer conducting nonformal education activity.

6. Mabuhay - this consists of enhancing the capacity of the community to maintain and promote the physical beauty of the village and its landscape. Moreover, the program includes building the capacity of the community in handling community events and hosting guests that come to the site.

KB Nanay's being trained on Flower Arrangement

7. Values Formation - to enhance/strengthen community relations and dynamics of the members and leaders. This also involves forming and/or developing values of the community towards a dynamic community and improved quality of life.

KB Members in one of the empowerment activities.

The University of St. La Salle, being the Caretaker of GK Lopue Legacy Village, works hand-in-hand with GK Negros Occidental and the Local Government of Bago City in all the efforts for community development and empowerment. GK Lopue continues to grow as a family and a community.

23 Families are still awaiting to have their own house at GK Lopue Legacy Village, 1 Housing Unit in GK costs Php 100,000-120,000. If interested to help in this endeavor, you can contact the author at:

Balayan Social Development Office, University of St. La Salle, La Salle Ave., Villamonte, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100; Phone Numbers: (034)4353857/(034)4346100 loc. 133 or you can email at v.paildan@usls.edu.ph

***Credits to Ms. Terai Barcoma for most of the words used in this feature.