St. Joseph the Worker Parish and St. Joseph College of Baggao, Inc., together with Baggao LGU Officials, various organizations and sponsors, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Salinong ni San Jose that will serve as a permanent home for the displaced families in Taytay last February 14.
Tuguegarao Metropolitan Archbishop Ricardo Baccay presided over the Rite of Blessing and led the cutting of ribbon in this historic occasion.
He said that the groundbreaking fosters the value of universal fraternity, espoused by the recent apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis called Fratelli Tutti, between the parish and the government officials in Baggao to help relocate the victims of Typhoon Ulysses last November 12.
The prelate said that the Church is being built when help is given to the people to put up their homes and the community come together to work for the good of all.
Baccay was happy that the Church’s mission is being fulfilled and reminded the people that ‘where the home is, there the Church is too’.
The groundbreaking, part of this year’s celebration of the Year of St. Joseph, was attended by Baggao LGU Officials led by Mayor Joan Dunuan, Vice Mayor Rowel Gazmen, all the Members of Sangguniang Bayan, Barangay Captain Gemalyn Bangayan, Rev. Clifford Dalingay, Fr. Denis Jake Ordillos, Parochial Vicar Fr. Christian Dave Remudaro, and the Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and SJCBI President Fr. Gerard Ariston Perez.
Fr. Perez shared how this project was conceived and developed after seeing the situation of the families in the Taytay evacuation center and posting it on Facebook.
He said that the multi-million project was made possible thru the overwhelming response and support of generous donors, both local and abroad, to those who have lost their homes because of the crisis.
The duplex houses, worth P150,000 each, for about 166 families arranged into 9 clusters will be constructed on a 1.5-hectare vacant land acquired from the Agbayani family by Baggao LGU located near Taytay public cemetery.
Mayor Dunuan also pledged the use of their equipment and the Philippine Army offered the assistance of their skilled workers for the said project.
Parokia San Jose Mangmangged Parish and SJCBI plan to extend this shelter assistance to other beneficiaries from other barangays and look forward for more collaborative work with Baggao LGU Officials, donors and other stakeholders.
The pastor urged everyone to continue putting their efforts together and to continue being a witness of fraternal love.
’In unity, there is strength. This Project Salinong is a testament of the collaborative efforts of everybody concerned,’ Perez said.
By Reagan Q. De Leon
