40 additional homes planned at PFK LIGHT Village Housing in Dingle, Iloilo

(left to right): Housing Village Association President, Dingle Mayor Dr. Rufino Palabrica, Dale Asis and Dane Dizon surveying land for 40 more homes in Dingle, Iloilo

I am excited to announce that the Bayanihan Foundation plans to partner with the Municipality of Dingle to build 40 homes for the indigent in Dingle, Iloilo Philippines. The project is made possible by the generous contribution of the PFK Family Foundation to build these 40 homes as part of the PFK LIGHT Village Housing Development in Dingle (pronounced ding-leh).

Dale Asis (center) and Evelyn Castillo (next) of the Bayanihan Foundation  surveys the area for the additional 40 homes in Dingle, Iloilo, with residents looking on (December 2014)

The Bayanihan Foundation will partner with Mayor Dr. Rufino Palabrica in the building of these homes. Dr. Palabrica, affectionately nicknamed Doc Pinoy, remains the key  in the continued success of this project. He exemplifies an elected official who is truly dedicated to serve his community.  The Municipality of Dingle has generously provided  the infrastructure including building of the road, sewers, electricity and water lines to accommodate the additional 40 homes. The municipality also has set up a lottery system and a thorough screening process to name and select indigent families that deserve the homes. The families also have to contribute hundreds of hours of ‘sweat equity’ in the construction of their home.

(left to right): Mayor Dr. Rufino Palabrica, Village Housing Association President; and Evelyn Castillo, Liaison of Bayanihan Foundation

But most of all, the Bayanihan Foundation is excited to partner with the PFK Family Foundation and the Municipality of Dingle in the construction and establishment of a cocoa processing plant nearby. Upon completion, the residents will work in processing and manufacturing raw organic cocoa that can be refined and manufactured into fine chocolate and artisan chocolate products.

I am hopeful that the foundation can continue its five-year track record of transparency and accountability of its diaspora philanthropy projects, in order to engender more support from Filipino diaspora donors. The Bayanihan Foundation continues its winning streak of completing projects that can be accounted for.

Planned 40 homes in Dingle, Iloilo sponsored by the PFK Family Foundation

Bayanihan Foundation visits Dr. Palabrica in the municipal hall (left to right): Dale Asis, Evelyn Castillo, Will Dix and Dr. Rufino Palabrica