07 November 2014 - Gawad Kalinga (GK) Chairman Tony Meloto met with Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. at the Philippine Consulate General in New York on November 05 to discuss updates on the Consulate-led Build-A-Shelter Project (BASP) of the Filipino community in the US Northeast. 

BASP, through the US-based Philippine Jesuit Foundation, has collected about US$364,000 to fund the construction of four GK villages in the towns of Hernani, Giporlos, and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar and Tanauan, Leyte. Mr Meloto praised the BASP as the biggest and most organized government response team that GK has partnered with in rebuilding efforts for Haiyan/Yolanda survivors.  Presently, GK, the on-the-ground agent of BASP, is at the finishing stage of the first village in Hernani and is starting construction in Giporlos. Also present during the meeting were BASP Conveners Ms Vivian Cruz, Ms Nimfa Tinana, Atty. Ferdinand Suba, Mr. Roger Alama and Mr. Zultan Bermudez as well as several major donors. END