A PUBLIC library in Davao City that will be open 24/7 is now under construction and is expected to be operational by April 2019. The P40-million Davao City Library and Information Center, which is being built from Trust Fund 2017 sources, is a collaboration between the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation and the city government. It will be located along C. Bangoy Street, on the former Central 911 site across the Davao Light and Power Co. office. Vice-Mayor Bernard E. Alag said the four-storey building will replace the existing library currently housed at the third floor of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Building. Davao City Library head Pedrita M. Badar said the new library will have facilities for persons with disabilities. Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Jose Luis M. Oquiñena said the Davao project is one of the community libraries they have been building around the country. “So far, we have completed four, including one in Cebu and in Marawi,” Mr. Oquiñena said, adding that they are working on three more in Mindanao and two in the Visayas. Gawad Kalinga, which has recently partnered with the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, is a recipient of part of the company’s book sale proceeds. Big Bad Wolf Book Sales turned over early this month P5 million for Gawad Kalinga’s community projects. — Carmencita A. Carillo

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