Meloto calls on fellow Asians to help eradicate poverty

SINGAPORE – Ramon Magsaysay awardee and Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto called on fellow Asians to help developing countries eradicate poverty.

Meloto, together with representatives from the public and private sector in the Philippines, launched here over the weekend Gawad Kalinga as the Asian model of development against poverty.

“We urge Asians to rise above our divisions and ensure that our economic gains will close the gap between the rich and the poor and ensure that no one gets left behind,” Meloto told participants of the 2nd Global Gawad Kalinga Summit held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic here.

“This is the GK way: Asians caring for Asians, Asians ending poverty in Asia,” he said.

Meloto said GK’s strategy is to create a template in every town and to replicate this in every village (barangay) with support from the local government units.

In 2006, Meloto received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymond Villafuerte, who was one of the speakers in the summit, has thrown his support to GK in its effort to help other Asian countries in combating poverty.

“Asians ending poverty in Asia starts with Filipinos ending poverty in the Philippines,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said he himself was inspired by GK to eliminate poverty in his province.

“If there is one thing that binds Gawad Kalinga and CamSur, it is our common belief in responsible development. Our projects are not only progress-oriented, they are purpose-driven. Our people are not only conscientious workers, they have the conscience and the compassion for the poor,” he said.

Villafuerte said CamSur has the biggest GK communities in the country.

He said GK homes in his province have been transformed into mini-economic centers that promote local tourism.

“From building homes, we are now re-building lives. From building communities we are now building a sustainable and self-reliant future for our people,” he said.

Villafuerte said CamSur is hosting the biggest marathon in September which aims to benefit various non-government organizations, including Gawad Kalinga.

With this year’s theme “Gawad Kalinga Summit 2010: Icon of Hope against Poverty,” GK honored outstanding Asians, including the late former President Corazon Aquino, who have made heroic sacrifices to grow the GK movement.

It also honored GK village builders from Singapore, particularly students of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic who have just finished their internship in GK communities in the Philippines this year.

Since 2007, Gawad Kalinga has been providing internship program to students of the NUS and Ngee Ann Polytechnic in its GK communities in the Philippines.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic principal Chia Mia Chiang said the study trips “have transformed our students.”

“As an example, they have learned the importance of finding happiness in simplicity and the value of friendship,” he said.

Meloto said GK aims to build homes for 700,000 families living in extreme poverty this year.