05 March 2015 – Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. witnessed on February 26 the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between  the Isabela Cultural Corporation (ICC), a partner  of the Philippine Jesuit Foundation (PJF), the Build A Shelter Project (BASP) and the Gawad Kalinga Foundation (GK) to build 22 houses in Dolores, Eastern Samar.  ICC was represented by its Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Sergio Naranjilla, Jr. while GK was represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Luis Oquinena.

The Build A Shelter Project was launched in November 2013 after Supertyphoon Yolanda/Haiyan devastated Eastern Samar and the nearby areas. In a year, the BASP declared its mission as an unqualified success, having received donations totaling US$374,000, more than enough to build 102 houses in four villages.

Through GK, the partners have already built 34 houses in the municipality of Hernani, Eastern Samar and 22 houses in the Municipality of Tanauan, Leyte. Work is set to begin on the construction of houses in Giporlos, Eastern Samar in March. The Municipality of Dolores in Eastern Samar, where typhoon Ruby/Hagupit first made landfall, was chosen as the site for the fourth village.

BASP is a community-centered initiative led by the Philippine Consulate General in New York and spearheaded by its five convenors namely; Atty. Ferdinand Suba, Engr. Roger Alama, Mr. Zultan Bermudez, Ms. Mary Vivian Talambiraz-Cruz and Ms. Nimfa Dy-Tinana. 

Gawad Kalinga head Tony Meloto recognized BASP as the “biggest and most organized government response team that partnered with Gawad Kalinga in rebuilding efforts for Typhoon Haiyan survivors.”  END