By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:25pm (Mla time) 01/06/2008
MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines— Gawad Kalinga will facilitate
"massive partnerships" for the provincial government's housing
program for poor families in support of Gov. Eddie Panlilio, who "earned
the trust of the private sector," GK champion Antonio Meloto
said here on Sunday.
"Among (Father) Ed is a leader who inspires the private sector.
A good leader should attract the private sector to trust, to believe
and to help. We have limited resources in our own towns, cities and
provinces and the problem of poverty is so immense and so massive,
it needs everyone's help," Meloto said.
Interviewed before the launch of the GK Village here, Meloto described
Panlilio, 54, as "a nontraditional leader who has an out-of-the-box
approach to development."
"He invites everyone to help," he added.
Panlilio headed for 15 years the Archdiocese of San Fernando's Social
Action Center of Pampanga, whose response program for Mt. Pinatubo's
1991 eruptions proved to be invaluable.
He also founded the Talete Panyulung ning Kapampangan Inc. (TPKI),
which has replicated the Grameen Bank-approach.
Grameen Bank helped millions of poor people in Bangladesh, many of
them women, by letting them borrow small sums to start businesses.
Its founder, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize.
On its 20th year, the TPKI has made available at least P2 billion
in loans to hundreds of small entrepreneurs throughout Central Luzon.
During the GK Village launch in Barangay Tabun here, Meloto called
Panlilio a "symbol of hope" for the good governance program
he began in Pampanga.
Meloto said the partnership being mounted in Pampanga sought to draw
in the province's 21 mayors, the private sector and the Kapampangan
based abroad. The latter will be reached through GK's global campaign,
which kicked off late 2007.
"We're going for global branding because the mood globally now
is change, and it's change for the better, to really build a better
world," Meloto said.
GK seeks to mobilize funds and expertise from Filipinos and foreigners
alike and direct the support, including livelihood, health and education
to its villages.
Meloto said Panlilio's brand of leadership and the close partnership
of the private sector and government led him to believe that "we
are seeing the future of the Philippines and it is going to happen
here."
"The leadership here enjoys public trust. We are nonpartisan
but we always like to work with national and local leaders who believe
in the vision of Gawad Kalinga which is simple: To bring the Philippines
out of the Third World; to make it a First World nation," Meloto
said.
GK has already partnered with more than 300 local government units
and seeks to increase its partners this year. So far, it has helped
establish 1,500 villages in the country and has facilitated land donations
for an additional 150,000 families.
Meloto praised Mayor Marino Morales for helping GK put up the Tabun
village in June 2007 with the support of Couples for Christ, the Santos
Ventura Hocorma Foundation and the Cabinet spouses.
Panlilio described the problem of homelessness in Pampanga as "urgent"
due to migration and lack of housing units in the Pinatubo resettlements.
Because of this, he said he would exert efforts to convince the provincial
board to pass the 2008 budget.
"If that does not push through, the mayors and I will lead the
GK campaign in the private sector so that the housing needs of our
poorest constituents are addressed," he said.
He asked the 68 settlers in Tabun to "teach us how we could
all be of help."
Dr. Reynaldo Espiritu, CFC coordinator in Pampanga, said GK had already
put up 10 villages in the province.
Jose Luis Oquiñena , GK executive director, told the settlers:
"Walang iwanan (No one will be left behind)." That is the
GK's slogan this year, according to Oquiñena.