GK News
Kalinga Leyte - Gawad Kalinga Responds
to Southern Leyte Tragedy
Soldiers and rescue workers scour the mud
for survivors and signs of life. The unstable
soil slowed rescue efforts amidst fear of
shifting and sinking mud.
|
Nearly 1,800
people have been feared dead as rescue operations progressed
in St. Bernard, Southern
Leyte after devastating
mudslides on February 18 that
engulfed the village of
Guinsaugon.
In response to the
tragedy Gawad Kalinga has launched Kalinga Leyte, a
program to provide emergency relief, rehabilitation and to
build communities for the poor of the area. Kalinga Leyte was immediately
launched a day after the tragedy.
Dylan Wilk, a
British national and Gawad Kalinga director of International
Partnerships was happy to report via e-mail that Secretary
Nonong Cruz, head of the National Disaster Coordinating
Council announced that Gawad Kalinga will do the area
rehabilitation, and that the government would match all funds
raised for Kalinga
Leyte as is already being done for Kalinga Luzon, the ongoing program
helping typhoon victims of the area.
GK beneficiaries now
benefactors
Two years ago, Gawad Kalinga helped the
landslide survivors of nearby Liloan and San Ricardo. The GK
villages built there now serve as refugee centers for the
current victims and neighboring communities who feel
threatened by heavy rains. Last year's victims are now
benefactors, opening their homes and offering counseling to
the new victims. By cautiously locating the GK villages
of Liloan and San Ricardo they have been in no danger from the
recent landslides and floods.
God scripted everything
GK village in Maasin, Southern Leyte. GK villages in near by Liloan and San Ricardo have been used as refugee centers for those affected by the mudslides.
|
The small town of
Maasin,
Southern
Leyte was due to hold a
large GK event on Feb 19, Sunday. Over 3000 people attended,
which is really huge for a small place like Maasin. The
province was fully prepared for an immediate
launching [of Kalinga Leyte] when the disaster hit. In
fact, it really seems that God scripted everything said Mr.
Wilk.
Gawad Kalinga continues
progress
To date, Gawad
Kalinga has over 55 GK villages for the typhoon victims in
Luzon. According to Mr.
Wilk, after just one year of work, GK has enough land for
almost a quarter
of a million beneficiaries. For every person who died
in those typhoons in Luzon, almost 1000 have been given new
life, this is the
same challenge God is giving us now in
Leyte added Mr. Wilk.
Kalinga Leyte is
set to focus the eyes of the world on the patriotism and
resiliency of the Filipino. It will start with the town
of St.
Bernard and will spread
to the poorest of the poor in all towns of
Leyte.
ANCOP-GK
Canada encourages all Filipinos, especially
Leytenos and Leyteno associations to take an active part in
the relief efforts.
In conjunction with the launch of GKs
1MB Isang Milyong Bayani (One Million Heroes) Filipinos,
friends and global supporters of Gawad Kalinga are encouraged
to continue helping the poor and those suffering from this
tragedy.
Paolo Borromeo ANCOP Canada with
reports from Gawad Kalinga
To help victims of the Southern Luzon
Landslide and support Kalinga Leyte please send your donations
to ANCOP International Canada. Contact your local area ANCOP office.
ANCOP
is the official international fundraising and sponsor
relations arm of Gawad Kalinga. Your donations are tax
deductible. ANCOP is a registered Canadian
charity.
|
