The new St. Joseph Multi-purpose Hall will soon rise in Taytay with SJCBI President and pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish Fr. Gerard Ariston Perez leading the groundbreaking ceremony last April 24, 2021 during the third day of the Novena to St. Joseph.
Fr. Perez said that the multi-purpose hall would provide a venue for barangay assemblies such as livelihood skills training seminars, meetings, and spiritual formation of Project Salinong beneficiaries. Also, residents of nearby barangays such as Nangalinan will benefit from this facility.
Community of God
Rev. Aristotle Maggay, resident deacon of Parokia San Jose Mangmanged, urged Taytayeños’ to live as a community patterned in the life of the Holy Trinity.
“[Agbiagtayo akas] gimong nga agsisinnaranay, gimong nga agtitinnulong, ken gimong nga agpipinnakawan,” Maggay said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration at the relocation site.
Describing Taytayeños’ as multitasking people, he reminded them to be always prepared to share their time, treasure and talent for the wellbeing of others. He inspired them not to be weary working for the good of the community.
“With the Lord, we can do,” he added.
Fruits of Dialogue
Engr. Jenison Herrera, Municipal Engineer, said the shortage of wood materials drags the construction process of Project Salinong during the meeting with the beneficiaries and community leaders. Taytay Barangay Captain Gemma Bangayan noted that the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) has already given the permit for their available wood materials for Project Salinong.
Perez also proposed using bamboo scaffoldings for Zones 4 to 7.
Moreover, Perez endorsed that each zone forms fixed teams of construction workers, each composed of about ten members from their area to work on a single unit until its completion. In this way, the workers could operate faster with a stable working relationship among their companions. He also asked the leadership of the barangay councilors to speed up the operation.
Further, the author of Project Salinong reminded the people of their agreement that any minor expenditures beyond the Php 75,000 budget should be the beneficiaries’ counterparts. The pastor also assured the beneficiaries that he would help conduct livelihood training and skill seminars for their source of income.
Bangayan appealed for the patience of the Taytayeños as the approval of the Php 15,000 worth of LGU livelihood assistance is still in progress.
Meanwhile, the senior citizens who received housing units expressed their woes about the possibility of the transfer of rights of their houses to other families. Perez explained the function of the board committee members in deciding on such issues. However, he stressed that the Taytayeños are given the ‘priority’.
By: Reagan Q. De Leon
