SASMUAN -- Second district Board Member Catalina Bagasina arranged Sunday with Couples for Christ (CFC) Foundation led by its coordinator, Dr. Rey Espiritu, to provide free housing to indigent families of Barangay San Antonio here.

According to Bagasina, the housing project will be constructed in a two-hectare property donated by her family for the project. The CFC, in coordination with the municipal social welfare office here, would select 30 indigent families from different areas of the town. The families who would pass the screening process would be relocated in the said property.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

"This project aims to uplift the dignity of living of our poor families here. The agreement is that they would have to construct their own houses through the help of CFC. Materials would be provided but the labor would be a counterpart initiative between the beneficiaries and CFC," Bagasina said.

The donated land is located near the port area of the town which, Bagasina said, will provide potential employment and business opportunities for the relocatees.

Espiritu, for his part, said the CFC would be helping the relocatees in building their homes and identifying possible livelihood projects for the community. He said the CFC is imposing the rule that the lots could not be sold and could only be passed to relatives under a usufruct agreement.

Espiritu's group has been instrumental in the development of free housing projects for the poor. One successful housing project they have accomplished is the Tabun Model Community in Barangay Tabun. The project was established through the help of Gawad Kalinga.

"The lots could not be sold. But they can be passed to family members. We are also imposing certain restrictions in the community like rules for peace and order and particularly on the ban of any gambling activity in the community," Espiritu said.

Espiritu also lauded Bagasina for donating the lots for the soon to be constructed houses, saying it is now rare to see local officials donating their properties to noble causes without any condition.

"We hope to see more rich people like board member Bagasina giving out what they could for the benefit of other people," Espiritu said. (Ian Ocampo Flora)