Blessing, dedication rites for Guinsaugon housing units held

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
November 21, 2006

BRGY. MAGBAGACAY, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte  –  Exactly nine months to the day the mountains came crashing down, a new barangay Guinsaugon has gradually evolved out of the vast expanse right here in this barangay.

On Friday, November 17, a ceremonial house blessing and dedication for 100 housing units under the Japan Emergency Grant Aid, in cooperation with the DSWD and Habitat for Humanity, was held here attended by Gov. Rosette Lerias, DSWD Usec Violeta Cruz, Vice-Mayor Felix Lim, and other visiting top Executives from the private sector and from Habitat who had helped in the actual physical work for the houses.

A total of 165 duplex dwelling units intended for 330 surviving families of Guinsaugon have been built in this sprawling space.

The Gawad Kalinga’s 100 houses had been turned-over and already used by the beneficiaries about five months ago, while the 130 units undertaken by the Red Cross were still ongoing, according to a local Red Cross personnel.

The other set of 100 houses sponsored by Japan was also in the finishing stages of completion, but this was already blessed and dedicated in a formal ceremony as many of the units were already occupied.

Romeo Esguerra, President of the Guinsaugon Homeowners’ Association, was visibly touched by the outpouring of assistance they had received that he was almost speechless in his testimony.

But Esguerra managed to voice out the desire of the people living in the new community regarding their need for sustainable livelihood.

Gov. Lerias readily responded to Esguerra’s call, saying that a hygienic fish drying machine will be coming soonest for the livelihood of the people living in the new settlement.

Gov. Lerias also expressed her heartfelt thanks to all the donors who left their comfort zones in the city and did not hesitate to offer their help for the reconstruction of lives deeply affected by the disaster.