13 February 2014 – Philippine Consul General in New York Mario L. De Leon, Jr. witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB)-Build A Shelter Project US Northeast (BASP) and the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation, Inc. on February 07 at the SLB’s office in Ateneo De Manila in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Fr. Javy Alpasa, SLB President, and Mr. Luis Oquinena, GK Executive Director, signed the MOA. Mr. Tony Meloto, GK Chairman, served as the other witness.
The SLB-BASP-GK MOA covers the construction of a village of 36 houses in Pinasuan, Hernani, Eastern Samar for the amount of PhP4,750,000 (approximately US$ 105,814). The houses will be built in response to the call for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and rebuilding of the typhoon-devastated communities.
Consul General De Leon will visit the site in Pinasuan and is also planning to visit the proposed site for the second BASP village in Giporlos, Eastern Samar. Mr. Alex Go, who comes from Giporlos, has donated one hectare of land in his town for the BASP.
The BASP was launched on 26 November 2013 through the initiative of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the leaders of the Filipino American community to mobilize the resources of both the Filipino American and non-Filipino American communities in assisting the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
To date, donations for the BASP, which are payable to the New York-based Philippine Jesuit Foundation (PJF), US partner of SLB, have reached a total of US$ 223,093.40. PJF is a 501 (c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible up to the extent allowed by US law.
"With the signing of this MOA, we can now begin constructing the much-needed permanent shelters for the typhoon survivors in Hernani, Eastern Samar. I am extremely grateful to all organizations and individuals who have donated to the BASP and made this project possible. BASP will continue to raise funds so we can build more villages in other areas," Consul General De Leon said.
Interested donors may send checks payable to Philippine Jesuit Foundation with “Yolanda Calamity Fund-Build A Shelter Project” in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to the Philippine Consulate General Cultural Section at 556 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10036. For more information, please send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (212) 764-1330 local 310. END