DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya, March 25 (PIA) — Hundreds of volunteers from various municipalities in this province joined Saturday’s program which started the five-day volunteerism event that aims to build houses, refurbish schools, provide free medical services for poor families and regreen the environment, among others.

These volunteers used their own resources like fare, food, time.

Governor Luisa Cuaresma, along with town officials led by mayor Clarita Egmin-Epi inspired the participants, saying that the local government units are in full support of the mission of the volunteers to help poor families of the province.

“We are in full support of your activities. It is good that we now have leaders who can be relied upon so that coordination is sustained for the good of the poor,” Cuaresma said.

The provincial government, according to Willy Delizo shouldered the materials needed for the construction of houses for the poor within the Gawad Kalinga site in barangay Beti in nearby Aritao town.

During the volunteerism event, 10 houses will be built for the poor, schools will be refurbished and various tree seedlings will be planted in identified areas.

Also part of the Bayani Challenge is Lakbay-Kalusugan by the Department of Health(DOH) in coordination with the host local government units inorder to provide free medical assistance and other services.

The Lakbay-Kalusugan will be held in Bambang town which will treat at least 300 poor families from barangays Aliaga and Sto Domingo.

The Bayani Challenge is a yearly event spearheaded by the Pilipinas Natin movement, a special project under the office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office(PCOO) and Gawad Kalinga.