Gawad Kalinga (GK) and the city of Alaminos have tied up to build a first-class eco-village to provide more than 1,000 homes for the fisherfolk along the shorelines of Bolo Beach in Barangay Pandan.

Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza announced his partnership with the GK Community Development Foundation Inc. in a recent signing of a memorandum of agreement with GK founder Antonio Meloto.

The event was witnessed by Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Entrepreneurial School of Asia president Joel Santos and representatives from the United Architects of the Philippines-Dagupan City Chapter.

He said the city and GK would pour in their resources and capacity to implement the joint housing and community project for the fishermen of Barangay Pandan.

While the locality will provide GK with free access to land titles and other vital documents, the foundation is tasked to draw up a site development plan, a feasibility study, and the legal, technical, financial, architectural and engineering plans.

Braganza said GK would put up GK-Kapitbahayan livelihood programs in the area and ensure that basic services, such as education and health, are provided.

He said he would identify homeless constituents living along the shorelines as well as those within the riverbanks and public lands to qualify under the low-cost housing program.

“It’s the dream of my administration and our fellow city officials that there should be no squatters in the city,” he stressed. “In partnership with Gawad Kalinga, this ardent dream will soon be realized.”

He welcomed the initiative of GK to provide the informal settlers with a permanent source of income.