TVIRD, GK turn-over houses to Subanon families

Giving back to the community the TVIRD-GK way

This, after TVI Resource Development Phils. Incorporated (TVIRD) through its partnership with Gawad Kalinga or GK made true its promise to provide them with decent homes in their own homeland in a simple turn-over ceremony held recently.

TVIRD’s Chairman, Mr. Cliff M. James, accompanied by the company’s senior management and GK Partnerships Manager, Tito Cajulis, handed over the symbolic keys of the new houses to the Subanon beneficiaries in Tanuman, a property that belongs to the Subanon tribe’s ancestral domain.

Smiles are clearly seen on the faces of the Subanon families,moments before accepting the symbolic keys of their new homes.

The seven beneficiaries are the first batch of 40 families who will be provided with new homes through a resettlement program for members of the Subanon tribe who were relocated to give way to the company’s mining operations here in Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

“This is a big moment for us all and I would like to thank everybody for making it a reality,” Mr. James said. James also expressed his excitement over the prospect of more sustainable development projects for the community after the company partnered with Gawad Kalinga in realizing the resettlement project.

Mr. Clifford M. James, (in green shirt) Chairman of TVIRD hands over the symbolic key to the new home of Mr. Ronnie Limbang and his family. Assisting him (from left) are Engr. Jay Nelson, Vice-President for Environment and Civil Works, Renne Subido, Vice-President for Corporate Social Commitments, Tito Cajulis, GK Partnerships manager, Engr. Heliodoro Valmores, (in violet shirt), General Manager for TVIRD’s Canatuan Operations, and Kholee Calzada, Gawad Kalinga Regional Coordinator and project officer of the TVIRD-GK housing project in Tanuman

Thus, the place is now called the Tanuman GK Village.

Tito Cajulis, GK Partnerships manager, told the Subanon beneficiaries that GK and TVIRD are not only providing them with houses, but more importantly, they are building a thriving community that can stand on its own by helping one other.

Students and teachers from Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Siocon took time away from their studies to help build the houses for the Subanons in Tanuman.

The recipients themselves provided labor during the construction of the houses as part of their “sweat-equity.” For Gawad Kalinga, the most important thing is the fact that we help each other in building these houses,” Cajulis added. He compares the site to townhouses or subdivisions in urban centers like Metro Manila. “Each house at the GK Tanuman costs around PhP 170,000.00” he said.

Engr. Ely Valmores (third from left), Canatuan Operations general manager,leads company employees and equipment contractors in helping build the houses to express solidarity and unity with the Subanons and the GK.

Rodrigo Limbang, one of the beneficiaries said,“I am very thankful TVIRD, GK, fellow beneficiaries and other well-meaning citizens in Siocon. I am grateful to the students and teachers from Jose Rizal Memorial State College who shared their precious time so we may have beautiful homes like these.”

Those who received the houses are the families of Alonso Tumangkis, Rodrigo Limbang, Celestino Guinagag, Ronnie Limbang, Ronnie Tumangkis, Ronnie Paninong and Julie Ambaan.

The building of homes in Tanuman is guided by the GK’s principle of “bayanihan”, a Filipino tradition of helping one another to achieve a common dream.

The seven Subanon recipients of the new houses are the first batch of the 100 families who will have new shelters provided by TVIRD and Gawad-Kalinga.

It was expected that a total of 100 families will be given the Gawad Kalinga shelters through the GK-TVIRD partnership. Engr. Yulo Perez, Chief Operations Officer, hopes that more houses will be finished before the year ends.