Philippines – Vice President of the Philippines visits DB Calauan

19 July 2016

(ANS – Calauan) – On 16 July 2016 Her Excellency Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo, Vice-President of the Philippines and Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, visited Southville 7, Site 2 more popularly known as Don Bosco Calauan, a resettlement area of the National Housing Authority in Laguna, a province south of Metro Manila. Since 2009 it has slowly become a piece of heaven on earth for about 6,000 families who have been relocated here from homes in danger zones in Metro Manila or who were displaced by natural calamities.

By April Jerome Quinto, SDB

At 11:35 a.m., stakeholders and representatives of various organizations that help the communities under the care of Don Bosco Calauan welcomed Vice- President Leni. After the welcome pleasantries, the Vice-President was given a tour to two livelihood and social entrepreneurship programmes on the site: Tsaa Laya (literally, ‘tea freedom’, a facility that grows, harvests and packs local herbal teas) and Zeferin Shoes (a small shoe factory named after Blessed Zeferino Namuncúra).

After the tour, the leaders of the people’s organization, partner organizations and the Salesians gathered for a dialogue with the Vice-President. Among those who spoke was Fr Salvador ‘Boy’ Pablo, SDB, Rector of DB Calauan. Fr. Boy presented the scenario and gave an overview of the on-going projects and interventions of the Salesians of Don Bosco and their partners. He said, “we are all here to face the situations that have been created by the circumstances, like the trauma of transfer from urban to rural... We have no problems. We have solutions … trust in God. There is one thing left in our hearts and that is hope. Nobody, nobody can take it away”

In her response, the Vice-President re-echoed the message of Fr Boy. She recognized the healthy partnership of the national and local government, and the various organizations that support the community. She expressed her sincerest gratitude and reiterated the need for their partnership to continue.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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