and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. The project sought to extend assistance to the poorest families of Barangays Bitoon, Brief History of GK Dumanjug
Situated in Barangay Bitoon, GK-Dumanjug was born out of the partnership between the JP Garcia Foundation Inc. The project sought to extend assistance to the poorest families of Barangays Bitoon, Tubod-Bitoon, Kanyuko, Tangi
l and Panlaan. provided the one (1) hectare prime lot as the GK site. The following were some of the events that facilitated the realization of the GK-Dumanjug:
Sometime on November 2004 members of the CFC-Bitoon Chapter presented the GK project concept and possible partnership to the key officials of the JP Garcia Foundation represented by Ms. Gina G. Atienza, Atty. Jesus B. Garcia Jr. and Atty. Alvin B. Garcia
December 26, 2004, during the Christmas gathering of the children of the late Atty. Jesus P. Garcia Sr., 3 members of CFC Bitoon (Chapter Head, Unit Head and the Sector Head) were invited to present the GK project and explained how the project would be implemented as well as the identification of the beneficiaries
January to February 2005 – data gathering on the potential beneficiaries were conducted in collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare Office of Dumanjug, the Barangay Councils of barangays Bitoon, Panlaan, Kanyuko, Tubod-Bitoon and Tangil. March 2005 – house to house profiling was conducted by the students of CTU-Barili campus. At that time a total of 65 families were shortlisted and were invited to participate the 12 weekends Values Formation activities
March 28, 2005 – the memorandum of agreement between the JP Garcia Foundation Inc. and the GK Foundation was signed by Mrs. Severina B. Garcia and Mr. Elmer Labatos in the presence of 2nd District Representative Pablo P. Garcia, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia, Dumanjug Mayor Cesar A. Baricuatro. On that same day, the ceremonial groundbreaking was done at the GK site. Sometime on December 2005 – construction of the Model house
January 2006 – January 2007 construction of other housing units
February 21, 2007 – turnover of housing units to the first batch of GK beneficiaries
The JP Garcia GK village was the realization of the last will of the late Jesus P. Garcia Sr. to help the poor families in the barangay. This new hope allowed the farmers and fishermen of Bitoon, Dumanjug to find joy in the simplicity of their lifestyle and dignity in the work that they have been doing for the past years.
