ABS-CBN Foundation launches Bayanijuan sa Calauan

By: Faizza Farinna T. Tanggol

CALAUAN, Laguna--Informal settlers living along the Pasig River and esteros now have hope for a better life thanks to “Bayanijuan sa Calauan”, the 107-hectare resettlement project that supports the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) movement.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) has provided the scenic Calauan site adjacent to the Nagcarlan Mountain Range in Laguna. “This resettlement site is actually owned by the National Housing Authority. We [at NHA] had a memorandum of agreement with ABS-CBN Foundation where we gave them authority to manage the Calauan housing project,” explained Rico Laxa, General Manager of NHA, “There are 800 houses here ready for the families, we just have to fix it a bit—paint the houses and have doors and windows installed. I’m sure the site will definitely improve with the help of ABS-CBN Foundation and their partners.”

KBPIP, a partnership between ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), has taken on the challenge of rehabilitating the river waters in seven years.

An important phase in achieving the rehabilitation process of Pasig River is to relocate the estimated 4,000 families currently living near Pasig River and waterways leading up to it, as these households contribute to 60% domestic wastes in the Pasig River, according to a PRRC study. Bayanijuan sa Calauan, the official resettlement site of KBPIP, will provide shelter, livelihood, child welfare, environmental initiatives, microfinance and disaster-risk reduction programs to the families.

“Bayanijuan sa Calauan is about showing how the Filipino spirit can be, how we can all work together,” Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation, clarified during the site’s inauguration, “This is an ideal place, where we can bring the informal settlers from Pasig River to transform and improve their lives through Bayanijuan.”

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and ABS-CBN Foundation launched Bayanijuan last year with the goal of rebuilding communities from the ground up by utilizing the successful socio-civic programs under its belt. Bayanijuan synergizes Bayan Microfinance and all the programs of ABS-CBN Foundation--Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan, E-Media, and Sagip Kapamilya--into one.

ABS-CBN showed strong support for Bayanijuan sa Calauan as executives Charo Santos-Concio, Cory Vidanes and Bong Osorio were present during the inauguration of the site. ABS-CBN talents also pitched in their contribution by waiving their fees as they graced the Calauan launch. Nikki Gil hosted the event while PDA scholars Laarni Lozada and Bugoy Drilon sang their hit songs.

“ABS-CBN [Broadcasting] Corporation has always supported all of ABS-CBN Foundation’s projects,” said Santos-Concio, president and COO of ABS-CBN. “Bayanijuan sa Calauan is another project that we are supporting because, really, Bayanijuan is about community building. We give a different kind of effort because this is ingrained in the Filipino spirit of pakikipagtulungan [working together] and having a healthy community.”

Different sectors are working together to make “Bayanijuan sa Calauan” a ready and sustainable home for the relocatees from Pasig River. ABS-CBN Foundation’s partners have thrown in their support for the cause.

The local government of Calauan has assisted the Bayanijuan sa Calauan project. “For the past six years, the thrust of Calauan has always been health services and education. There are already plans to open an elementary school and we already have a high school near here,” said Calauan mayor George Berris, “Just last week, Polytechnic University of the Philippines confirmed that they are putting up a campus here in Calauan. So we will have a complete education for the community.”

Globe Asiatique and Habitat for Humanity Philippines have also generously stepped in to help the project. They will be building additional houses for Bayanijuan sa Calauan. “This isn’t the first time that we partnered with ABS-CBN Foundation,” explained Delfin Lee, president and CEO of Globe Asiatique, “What she [Lopez] plans for Pasig River is a very worthwhile mission. I think we owe it to the next generation. However, if we move the squatters from Pasig River, where will they be transferred? So, our role is to make sure that they have somewhere to live, in partnership with NHA, Habitat [for Humanity] and of course, the orchestrator of everything, ABS-CBN Foundation.”

“Making a house is simple; it’s the core competency of Habitat for Humanity—to make simple, decent, durable houses,” said Bert Jugo, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, “What’s difficult is making sure that the people here become a real community. That’s why we have a partner that will help in values formation and access to livelihood, the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life. We are also partners with Manila Water, that’s why the community now has access to clean water.”

Manila Water has come in to lend a hand in the water and sanitation system for Bayanijuan sa Calauan. Setting up a sanitation scheme for the Calauan resettlement site is vital so as not to repeat the problems in Pasig River. “It’s not enough to supply water [to the community] because after using it, it will just become wastewater. So we have to have a system so that it won’t be like in Pasig River, where the wastewater are just dumped in the river,” clarified Mark Mulingbayan, operations manager of Manila Water, “Here in the Calauan community, we have to take care of the environment, which means, no sewage should go to the river here. Water should already be treated before going to the river.”

“Manila Water’s role is to help in the planning and implementation of the sanitation system in the community,” said Mulingbayan, “We will also give additional services like solid waste planning and generally changing the mindset of the people, that the environment should be their uppermost concern and everything we do has an environmental impact.”

With strong backing from the partners of ABS-CBN Foundation through Bayanijuan sa Calauan and Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, the dream of a clean Pasig River will surely become a reality in seven years.