Cordillera Administrative Region – Communities from barangays Banguitan and Lacmaan in the municipality of Besao has formally received two development projects worth Php 1,731,450.50 from Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Project being implemented through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The community development projects include the improvement of barangay Banguitan water supply system worth Php 602,000.00 and construction of farm to market road in barangay Lacmaan which is worth Php 1,129,450.50.
These projects have been identified by the communities as their primary and immediate needs through the Participatory Situational Analysis, a stage in the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC). The said cycle is followed by the Kalahi-CIDSS Project to ensure that transparency, accountability and empowerment is developed among the community members while implementing the Project.
“Noong ginagawa namin ang mga proyektong ito, ginawa naming motibasyon ang aming pamilya, lalo na ang aming mga anak ang at mga magiging anak din nila. Ilang heneresyon ang makikinabang sa proyektong ito na kami ang gumawa… proud kami. Ngunit higit sa mga nakikita nating proyekto, mas proud po ako sa mga natutunan ko sa Kalahi [CIDSS]. Lalo na sa mga trainings at seminars, na nakapgapatunay sa akin na hindi hadlang ang kairapan para matuto, kaya ko palang maging magaling,” Brgy. Banguitan Community Volunteer Sharon Escañan shared.
A total of 123 households will benefit from the improved water system and additional 40 households will benefit from the farm to market road.
“Madami nang naitulong ang Kalahi [CIDSS] sa Banguitan. Mula sa kalsada hanggang drainage canal. At ngayon, meron na ding water system. Masaya kami dahil isa kami sa pinakamaswerteng nabiyayaan ng ganitong proyekto”, Escañan added.
Together with the local government officials and DSWD personnel, the turn-over was also witnessed by representatives of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Millennium Challenge Account- Philippines (MCA-P).
“It is very humbling to be part of this celebration. We are very happy and pleased. Since the grants come from the US taxes, it makes us proud to see what our taxes and your cash counterparts were able to build. What I really like about Kalahi-CIDSS is the way we are able to build stronger communities, working together, we’re like one family. And in MCC, we value this kind of partnerships”, MCC Resident Country Director John Polk said.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) through the Millennium Challenge Account- Philippines (MCA-P) provides fund support for the implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS Project. The local government unit and the communities provide their counterpart to the grant provided by these donor institutions.
MCA-P Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Marivic Añonuevo lauded Besao for consistently delivering excellent results since the municipality first implemented the Project in 2010. “Besao keeps inspiring us, showing the spirit of Kalahi-CIDSS, the spirit of volunteerism, cooperation within the community and the municipality. More than the physical infrastructures that we have seen, what makes us proud is the fact that you [the community] learned something from Kalahi-CIDSS and you did not stop from learning. You continued to apply the things you have learned in your daily lives. All the learnings that was shared to us will continue to build this community and the generations to come”, Añonuevo shared.
Meanwhile, DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Janet P. Armas expressed gratitude for this accomplishment. “The accomplishment of Besao is an example of what teamwork can bring. When we continue working together and believe in the capacity of others, we can achieve things far beyond our imagination. We would like to express gratitude to all the stakeholders who made this possible. And may this pose as a challenge to other communities for them to work harder for their development”, Dir. Armas shared. # DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva with Strelle C. Quejado and Jemimah Hope R. Ollet (UC Intern)
