The Gawad Kalinga Bayani challenge, that targets the building of 50 houses for the homeless in Amlan, Negros Oriental, in five days, starts today.

About 150 teams of summer volunteer-builders are expected to finish the construction on April 14, in the three-hectare lot offered by the local government in barangay Tambujangin, for the victims of tropical storm “Sendong”.

Amlan Mayor Bentham dela Cruz, however said the lot can accommodate more than 120 houses. Residents living near the riverbanks and beachfronts are the priority beneficiaries, he added.

A GK house costs P110,000 per unit with a 22 square-meter floor area in a 60 sqm lot per area. The GK has allocated P13 million for the 120 houses in Amlan, aside from the targeted four areas in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Masbate and Occidental Mindoro.

The challenge aims to develop a site, not only for sheltering the homeless but also for building a community for poor residents of Amlan, the mayor said.

The five-day challenge aims to address social issues behind poverty through building houses, refurbishing public schools, community health or medical mission, children’s activity, clean up and greening program.*PIA

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