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| (Image Source: Provincial Public Information Office/MacVen Ocampo) |
With the goal of bringing new life and hope to families affected by the devastation of Typhoon Kristine in 2024, the commencement of a new housing project has been accomplished for several individuals and families from the Town of Agoncillo who are still staying in evacuation centers. The Groundbreaking Ceremony and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing for the said housing project, which is part of the “Sulong Batangas (Onward Batangas)” initiative of the Provincial Government of Batangas, in partnership with the private sector in the province, was held last March 12, 2025.
The program began with the goal of fostering collaboration between the provincial government and the private sector to develop more concrete, long-term, and well-organized programs for the recovery of affected families and the promotion of stronger communities. The housing project in the Municipality of Agoncillo is being built on a 9,000-square-meter plot of land owned by the local government in Barangay Pamiga. Due to the availability of the aforementioned land and the Capitol's communications with the Municipality of Agoncillo and various private groups, the project was immediately initiated. Some of the private organizations that have partnered with the housing project are the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation, First Philippine Industrial Park, Inc (FPIP), Aboitiz InfraCapital – LIMA Estate, and Philippine Red Cross. During the groundbreaking ceremony, there were already 23 pledged housing units to be built at the Agoncillo Bayanihan GK Village. 20 of these houses were donated by Mr. James Chan and the remaining 3 were donated by the FPIP management. Prior to the official signing of the MOA, there were an additional 9 pledged units, bringing the total to 32 housing units. Two of these are from the pledges of Vice Governor Mark Leviste and his mother, former Lipa City Councilor Patsy Leviste, 5 from the Agoncillo municipal government, and two more from Agoncillo Mayor Cinderella Valenton-Reyes and Vice Mayor Daniel Reyes.
The Agoncillo municipal LGU is very grateful for the assistance and support of the provincial government, led by Governor Hermilando Mandanas, and partner private companies and organizations, to bring the project to fruition for its fellow citizens. Mayor Valenton-Reyes personally thanked the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) for sending tents as temporary shelter for the evacuees and thanked Provincial Administrator Wilfredo Racelis for his coordination with organizations, companies, and individuals who were the bridge in the successful implementation of the housing project. Everyone was then moved by the message of gratitude and sharing the story of Rubelyn Andal who represented other beneficiaries of the housing program. Here, she recounted her own experience when Typhoon Kristine devastated their area. Meanwhile, everyone hopes that the housing units will continue to increase with the help of others who wish to provide support and that FPIP will take steps to solicit more donations from their locators or investors.
Governor Mandanas was represented at the gathering by Vice Governor Leviste and Provincial Administrator Racelis along with 3rd District Board Member Fred Corona, PDRRM Officer Dr. Amor Calayan, Provincial Planning and Development Office Head Enp. Marisa Mendoza, and Housing and Homesite Regulation Officer Ronnel del Rio. Also present in the activity were Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Executive Director Daniel Bercasio and FPIP Inc. Vice President and Head of External Affairs Ricky Carandang.
(With words by Mark Jonathan M. Macaraig, Batangas Provincial Public Information Office)
