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Residents of Barangay Alejawan, Jagna, Bohol, inaugurated a P2.064-million access road on August 27, 2025, marking a significant step in improving mobility and supporting the livelihood of local fisherfolk.

KALAHI-CIDSS volunteers from Jagna, Bohol pose for a photo opportunity during the blessing and turnover of the access road in Barangay Alejawan, Jagna, Bohol, on Aug. 27, 2025.

The project, implemented through DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) – Pag-Abot program, was built with strong community participation. It was funded by a P2-million grant with a P64,000 counterpart from the municipality and barangay.

KALAHI-CIDSS 7 formally blessed and turned over the access road on August 27 in a ceremony attended by community members, volunteers, barangay officials, and representatives from the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Regional Program Management Office (RPMO), led by Deputy Regional Program Manager Engr. Helen Ybañez and Community Development Officer III Juliet Quijada.

Now operated and maintained by the Jagna Fisherfolk Association (JAFA), the road is expected to ease transport, strengthen the livelihood of fisherfolk, and boost the barangay’s tourism capacity, directly benefiting 164 households.

During the ceremony, Engr. Peter M. Jamero, OIC-Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, stressed that the program’s value goes beyond the infrastructure.

He emphasized that the community’s involvement in decision-making and implementation reflected the Community-Driven Development (CDD) principle.

“This program did not just provide infrastructure but also the proper training that helped build confidence and skills among community members and volunteers,” Jamero said. “They took on tasks such as procurement, infrastructure implementation, financial management, and now the continuing work of operating and maintaining this road,” he said in a mix of English and Cebuano.

Jagna Municipal Administrator Ma. Louella T. Jumawan, for her part, said the project is proof that even with a limited budget, development is possible as long as there is clear and proper implementation.

“Ang ato lang, kasagaran nga panaghugpong sa mga ahensya sa mga gobyerno is labi na dinhi sa lokal sa Jagna is moingon tag limited funds, always limited funds…but bisan og limited ang funds is at least naa moy nakit-an kaysa dagko ang funds nya wala diay mao nay mga butang nga ikalipay nato (What we often see in the coordination of government agencies, especially here in Jagna, is the common response: limited funds, always limited funds. But even with limited funds, at least you were able to accomplish something– unlike when there are bug funds but nothing to show for it. That is something worth being thankful for),” she said.

Here are more scenes during the ceremonial turnover in Barangay Alejawan, Jagna, Bohol on Aug. 27, 2025, attended by the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Regional Program Management Office head E ngr. Helen Ybañez (rightmost bottom).

Meanwhile, Engr Ybañez emphasized the importance of understanding the Mutual Partnership Agreement (MPA) during the turnover ceremony. She highlighted that the MPA is a key instrument towards the sustainability of the project.

She also reiterated the role of the barangay and the importance of monitoring and responding to maintenance and operational concerns of the sub-project before it gets non-functional.

Jagna is among the local government units in Central Visayas that is implementing the KALAHI-CIDSS Pag-Abot program.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) is a poverty reduction program of the DSWD. It uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, empowering communities through Barangay Assemblies and volunteers to identify, plan, implement, and manage the sub-projects they need most. ###