Watching his community come together was what first sparked Markjay C. Lugayan’s interest in public service. At 23, he became the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson of Barangay Katablangan, Conner, Apayao. Currently, he is one of the newest community volunteers of DSWD Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (FO CAR) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Program.
His connection to KALAHI-CIDSS Program began long before he formally joined. In the barangay where he grew up stands a multi-purpose drying pavement built in 2022 through the program’s community-driven development (CDD) approach, where barangay residents contributed to identify, plan, and implement their own subprojects. Most residents know it as the pavement where they bring their palay after every harvest. For Markjay, watching it took shape was his first real glimpse of what CDD meant in practice. He was not yet a volunteer then. He was simply a young resident watching his neighbors worked together, recognized what their community needed, and turned those ideas into reality.
When he became an SK Chairperson in 2023, Markjay began attending barangay assemblies and planning sessions as an official youth representative. During one of those discussions, he proposed adding a waiting shed to an ongoing road project. The proposal was approved through the barangay, and the shed now serves students and commuters passing through Katablangan daily. For Markjay, it was an early sign that young leaders could contribute meaningfully to community decisions. These experiences shaped his perspective on community development.
In 2026, he formally joined KALAHI-CIDSS as a community volunteer and Barangay Development Council (BDC) member under the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP) modality. As a young leader, Markjay learned that building trust takes time. In his early months of leadership, he worked alongside community members of different ages and backgrounds, listening to their ideas and contributing to discussions that shaped their barangay. Through his commitment, consistency, and active participation, he gradually gained the confidence of the community and showed that young people have a meaningful role in local development.
As community volunteer, Markjay coordinates with different groups, keeps residents informed, and helps ensure that various sectors are represented in program activities. He describes the most challenging part of the role as making sure everyone stays informed and involved, a responsibility he carries out by communicating clearly, listening to concerns, and making decisions after hearing different perspectives. He has also attended trainings on project management, disaster risk reduction, and leadership under KALAHI-CIDSS, skills he applies both within the program and in his broader responsibilities as SK Chairperson.
“Real development happens when the people are involved from planning to implementation. It is not just about building structures, but also about building trust and unity among the residents,” Markjay said.
Markjay witnessed how CDD translates ideas into action through the program. In Conner, KALAHI-CIDSS supported communities through subprojects such as improved road access, water supply systems, and initiatives that strengthen disaster preparedness. For Markjay, these are more than completed projects; they reflect what communities can achieve when residents take part in decisions that affect their daily lives.
For young people still on the sidelines, he has a simple message.
“Do not doubt your capacity. Being young means having fresh ideas and energy. Getting involved is not just helping the community. It also builds your character, prepares you to be a better leader of the community,” he said. #DSWD-CAR, KALAHI-CIDSS RPMO, Yvonne Gracious T. Elegado, Project Development Officer III
