The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII has turned over a total of 12 sub-projects of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in the municipalities of Siquijor and San Juan in the Siquijor Province. These municipalities recently had a municipal-wide turnover of all the sub-projects.

The projects in the two local government units (LGUs) cost P19,034,200. The municipalities of Siquijor and San Juan received P12,659,200 and P6,375,000, respectively.

The sub-projects turned over in the Municipality of Siquijor include the installation of solar-powered street lights, disaster response through rehabilitation of a daycare center, and COVID-19 response through the following: extension or construction of perimeter fence, conduct of IEC activities with provision of medical supplies, PPEs, and amenities; and disaster response through procurement of communication devices for information dissemination and IEC activities; improvement, rehabilitation, or expansion of barangay health station; upgrading of level 2 water system; and upgrading of isolation facility.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of San Juan received the following projects: installation of solar street lights and on-grid street lights, and COVID-19 response through the support of IEC activities with communication devices, installation of a solar panel for the water system pump, and improvement of the level 2 water system.

Promotive Services Division Chief Emma Patalinghug led the turnover of the projects in the Municipality of Siquijor at Capitol Square in Barangay Poblacion. Municipal Mayor Richard Quezon and the Barangay Kagawads attended the activity. Municipal Mayor Wilfredo Capundag Jr. and the other municipal and barangay officials attended the turnover at the Municipal Social Center in San Juan.

In her message, Patalinghug expressed her gratitude to the community volunteers, barangay officials, and LGU officials, who actively and wholeheartedly participated in the program process, especially in the sub-project implementation.

She hopes for a sustained spirit of volunteerism among community members and the LGU and barangays’ participation and support.

Needs met, residents empowered

Siquijor Mayor Richard C. Quezon thanked DSWD for bringing more development to the town that met the needs of the 42 barangays. He noted how KALAHI-CIDSS empowered the people involved in the project from planning, budgeting, and implementing.

“Mapasalamaton kaayu ko sa tanang Community Volunteers nga nigahin sa ilang panahon bisan walay sweldo, sa mga barangay local officials nga nihatag sa ilang kinasingkasing nga serbisyo 24/7, ug sa KALAHI-CIDSS nga nihatag ug giya aron magmalampuson ang pag-implementar sa programa sa 42 ka mga barangay. Nanghinaot ko nga magpadayon ang programa kay nakahatag gayod kini og kaayuhan ug kausaban sa mga katawhan (I am grateful to all the community volunteers who shared their time freely, to the barangay local officials who offered their services wholeheartedly 24/7, and to KALAHI-CIDSS who served as our guide for the successful implementation of the program in all 42 barangays. I hope that the program will continue, as this has brought positive change to the people),” Mayor Quezon said.

San Juan Municipal Mayor Wilfredo Capundag Jr., for his part, said he is beyond grateful for the KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects implemented in their town. The mayor also expressed his gratitude to the community volunteers and barangay officials involved in the implementation.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa KALAHI kay dakong tabang ang mga projects sa LGU tungod kay gamay lang ang pondo namo (I thank the KALAHI because the projects implemented are a huge help to the LGU since we only have limited funds),” said Mayor Capundag.

Mechelle Lontayao, a community volunteer and Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group (BDC-TWG) head of Tambisan, Siquijor, was grateful for the opportunity to be part of a program designed for people’s development. She emphasized that KALAHI-CIDSS training and seminars challenged her to learn and develop even more.

“Pinaagi usab namo nga mga community volunteers sa barangay, na-empower kaming mga katawhan nga manggilabot ug mo-kooparar sa tanang activities ug proyekto sa among barangay (Through us, community volunteers in the barangay, we have empowered the people to intervene and cooperate in all activities and projects in our barangay),” said Lontayao.

Lontayao, however, emphasized that the maintenance and care of the project for the benefit of future generations pose a big challenge for them.

Meanwhile, Richie Suan, barangay treasurer of Caticugan, Siquijor, said that with the consistent monitoring of all the processes, technical assistance, and guidance from the KALAHI Area Coordinating Team (ACT) or Municipal Coordinating Team (MCT), they have successfully implemented the project and benefited from the program. ###

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