Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala led the turnover ceremony of a farm-to-market road to the local officials and community members of Brgy. Caleriohan in Dalaguete, Cebu on November 19, 2021.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala and Dalaguete Municipal Mayor Jeffrey B. Belciña with local official and community volunteer of Brgy. Caleriohan, Dalaguete, Cebu.

The 0.940 km sectional concrete access road in Purok Talong and Purok Repolyo is funded under the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in the municipality of Dalaguete.

The KALAHI-CIDSS KKB aims to empower communities through sub-projects that support a diverse livelihood like the farm-to-market roads and cash-for-work program.

The Brgy. Caleriohan ceremonial ribbon-cutting marks the completion of the Php 7.5 million sub-project benefitting 100 household beneficiaries.

Municipal Mayor Jeffrey B. Belciña warmly welcomed the projects’ completion in his town. He said, “there is much to be done in support of our farming communities, but we see this as a welcome development for the people of Dalaguete.”

Dalaguete has 33 barangays and is considered as the ‘vegetable basket’ of Cebu because of its geographical location and unique climate situated atop the highlands.

One of the town’s primary sources of income is the production of vegetables and suppliers 70-80 tons of vegetable products a day to many places in the province, including those in Cebu City’s markets and supermarkets.

The local government of Dalaguete records a high number of truckloads of vegetables transported to the neighboring towns and cities’ markets.

However, farmers and laborers are also confronted with many challenges, especially the physical transportation of their products along rough roads by carrying many kilos of their produce to Mantalongon, the town’s main market, before delivering to various suppliers.

Community Volunteers of the KALAHI-CIDSS sub-project in Brgy. Caleriohan, Dalaguete, Cebu.

Because of this, many farmers had to endure physical pain to get their hard labor’s compensation.

The KALAHI-CIDSS farm-to-market road benefits not only the farming communities but also the overall development of the town.

KALAHI-CIDSS, in partnership with the local government unit, ensures that farm-to-market roads would provide a seamless and continuous vegetable production and delivery.

Punong Barangay Elias Jabagat said “Ang malamposon nga kalihukan sa KALAHI-CIDSS diri sa Caleriohan usa ka testamento sa katakos ug pagsalig sa mga tawo sa among komunidad ngadto sa mga programa sa DSWD (The success of KALAHI-CIDSS here in Caleriohan is a testament of the people’s ability and commitment of the community to the programs of DSWD).”

To date, DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS has completed a total of 69 sub-projects in Dalaguete, mostly farm-to-market roads, footpaths, and bridges, empowering almost 500 farmers during project implementations. ###

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