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The Dubai Duty Free GK Village is now officially open |
PHILIPPINES. Dubai Duty Free, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, The Dubai Duty Free Foundation, officially opened the Dubai Duty Free GK Village in the Philippines on Monday 18 May. The opening is a partnership with Gawad Kalinga (GK), a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement.
The ceremony saw the retailer hand over ownership of 32 houses to Typhoon Haiyan survivors in Binotong, Alangalang, in the province of Leyte.
Following the strongest typhoon that hit the country in November 2013, the super typhoon Haiyan brought substantial damage to lives, properties and business in the central region of the country. Amid efforts from foreign governments and international agencies, Dubai Duty Free reached out to Gawad Kalinga to be a part of the rebuilding programme for those who survived the onslaught of the typhoon with the goal of providing them with more typhoon-resilient homes.
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Proud day: Dubai Duty Free Manager – Corporate Responsibility Olympia Pineda along with staff members Teresa Lomotan and Carmelito Soza with Barangay Chairman Narciso Caldosa Jr and Romeo Caldosa, Project Director of Gawad Kalinga, at the official inauguration |
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman, Colm McLoughlin said: “We are deeply honoured to open the Dubai Duty Free GK Village for the beneficiaries who were victims of typhoon Haiyan and were left homeless. Today’s ceremonial handover of the symbolic key to these houses affirms Dubai Duty Free, through our Foundation and through our staff initiatives, as a supporter of the noble and humanitarian goal of delivering rehabilitation assistance to people affected by natural disasters in the Philippines.”
“The beauty of this project has been that the local people get to participate in the rebuilding process which makes it more meaningful to the families who can see that their personal investment of hard work has created their new home. My thanks to our management and staff who have contributed towards the funding process along with our Foundation.”
Present during the handover ceremony and awarding of the units on behalf of Dubai Duty Free was Manager – Corporate Responsibility Olympia Pineda, who was joined by two Dubai Duty Free staff who were on vacation and live near the municipality of Alangalang, Teresa Lomotan and Carmelito Soza.
Other attendees were Kevin Caballero, Gawad Kalinga Area Coordinator from Eastern Visayas and Romeo Caldosa, Project Director along with local government officials headed by Honorable Marvin Barona, Municipal Councilor and Honorable Narciso Caldosa Jr., Barangay Chairman.
As part of the ceremony the beneficiaries’ children performed an event programme to entertain attending officials and representatives.
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The Dubai Duty Free GK Village beneficiaries with their ceremonial keys presented by Olympia Pineda and Carmelito Soza |
The construction of the Dubai Duty Free GK Village started on 30 April 2014, five months after the typhoon. It was completed on 30 March this year. The 32 houses are designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes and are built to a high specification to ensure the safety of the families who will live there. The village has utilities, including basic amenities such as streetlights, a community centre and a basketball court.
Beneficiaries are obliged to help take care of the village, including the painting of the houses, beautification of the community, planting ornamental gardens in the vicinity, maintaining cleanliness and peace and order.
Prior to the housing project, pledges and various relief goods were also donated by Dubai Duty Free staff which was sent to Maharlika Charity Foundation on 20 January 2014. The goods were distributed in the province of Iloilo, Philippines through Global Impact Foundation.
The retailer’s partner in this venture, Gawad Kalinga (GK), is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, it is a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement founded by Antonio Meloto. Its mission is to end poverty for five million families by 2024.
The Dubai Duty Free Foundation has supported many charitable initiatives affected by natural disasters including the rebuilding of the Palliyawatta Village in Sri Lanka following the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami. In 2014, the operation also supported the industry-based charity, Hand in Hand for Haiti, which saw the opening of a US$1.5 million Dubai Duty Free Sports Complex.
Since 2004, 34 local and 51 overseas charities have benefited from the support of Dubai Duty Free.
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The Dubai Duty Free GK Village in Binotong Alangalang Leyte houses 32 families |
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