By BIN Staff | 03:42 PM February 26, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY — After years of quiet endurance, 61-year-old widow Lordesita Engieres Ayop has finally found relief from the hardships that once defined her daily life.
Raising her daughter alone, she has worked tirelessly as a laundrywoman and house helper in her community, earning just enough to cover meals and school expenses for her second-year Criminology student.
Every peso she earned went to sustaining her daughter’s education, leaving their storm-damaged house unrepaired and increasingly unsafe.
Their struggles began to intensify after Typhoon Odette ravaged Bohol in 2021, tearing apart homes and livelihoods.
Ayop’s modest dwelling was left in disrepair, its weakened structure a constant reminder of vulnerability.
With limited income and no savings, rebuilding seemed impossible. Still, she chose to endure discomfort and uncertainty rather than compromise her daughter’s future.
Hope arrived on February 25, 2026, when the Bohol Police Provincial Office formally turned over its 107th “Libreng Alagad ug Balay” (LAB) Project to Ayop.
The initiative, aimed at providing free homes to families in dire need, transformed her long-held wish for a safe shelter into reality. What once felt like a distant aspiration is now a sturdy home standing as a testament to compassion and community support.
The housing assistance was made possible through the support of Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Rep. Vanessa Aumentado, whose advocacy for social welfare programs continues to benefit marginalized sectors.
The local government of Mabini, under Mayor Ongie Grace Bernales-Lim and Vice Mayor Myra Fostanes-Colis, also extended support, alongside police officers who spearheaded the coordination of the project.
For Ayop and her daughter, the new house represents more than protection from the elements. It is a foundation for renewed hope—a symbol that perseverance, coupled with collective goodwill, can rebuild not only homes but lives.
