Lina Berongoy, a 62-year-old housewife from Sitio Mahayag, had her life forever changed by a tragic accident that nearly claimed her life. It was a day like any other, but it became a pivotal moment in her life and the development of her community.

One fateful afternoon, Lina and her husband were heading back home after attending mass in the main town. It was around noon, and the rain from the previous night had turned the already treacherous dirt roads into a muddy trap. As her husband drove the motorcycle and navigated the slippery path, the wheel got stuck in the mud. The sudden jolt caused Lina to fall off, and she narrowly escaped being run over by the bike.

Her husband escaped with minor scratches and bruises, but Lina wasn’t as fortunate. Crying in pain, she found herself unable to lift her left arm or move her thighs. The poor road conditions delayed the arrival of neighbors who rescued her. For Lina, the wait felt like an eternity, and she thought she was going to die on that muddy road.

In Sitio Mahayag in Barangay Luan, Candijay, Bohol, transportation difficulties often forced residents to resort to alternative medicine. The Berongoy family turned to the “hilot,” a traditional Filipino massage technique, and after more than a month of being immobilized, her pain was finally relieved.

Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, Lina channeled her experience into a catalyst for change. This harrowing incident ignited a powerful determination in her to improve the very road that had nearly claimed her life. Motivated by her suffering, Lina actively participated in KALAHI-CIDSS activities, a government program empowering communities to drive their development projects. Her husband and son, both carpenters, joined the cause, volunteering their skills to help complete the much-needed access road in 42 days.

Lina recalls countless accidents along the same road, though fortunately, none resulted in fatalities. This road is vital for the community; it is the path they take to the market, children use it to go to school, and it is their main route to the town for any travel outside the municipality.

The importance of a concrete road became even more evident when the suppliers delivered the supplies and materials for the KALAHI-CIDSS sub-project. Lina recounts how the delivery truck almost gave up when it nearly fell off the poor road. It took a united community effort to convince the supplier to complete the delivery for their much-needed project.

Filled with joy, Lina felt grateful for their concrete access road and the empowered community they have. After enduring multiple leaderships in their community, they finally see a glimmer of “kahayag” or light, as the name of their sitio suggests. The DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Program brought about this transformation, which empowers community members to become active movers of development.

Looking at their finished sub-project relieves Lina from the trauma due to the accident, replaced by community empowerment, accomplishment, and hope with safer roads, fewer accidents, and a brighter future for Sitio Mahayag. KALAHI-CIDSS has empowered her and her neighbors to take charge of their development, turning a tragic episode into a story of resilience and community-driven success. ###

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