Residents in eight barangays in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, have nothing but gratitude towards the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as the latter recently turned over a community sub-project in their respective barangays.

DSWD Field Office 7 conducted a city-wide turnover of sub-projects that cost P5,095,600, of which the KALAHI-CIDSS Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) grant is P4.8 million, while the P295,600 is the local counterpart contribution.

The respective sub-projects of the barangays funded under the Cycle 1 implementation of PAMANA include Binobohan, road; Hinakpan, streetlight; Humayhumay, road; Imelda, road; Planas, road; Sandayao, road; Tacpao, inter-cultural amenities; and Trinidad, road.

During the sharing of experiences, Binobohan Barangay Treasurer Meraquel Librea expressed her gratitude towards the program, citing that it is quite unique since there is gender equality and it also allows women to work as laborers.

“Dako kaayo mi og pasalamat sa KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA program nga gitabangan ang among barangay kay ang tabang usa na sa makapausob sa sistema sa amoang komunidad (We are very grateful to the KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA program that helped our barangay because it is one of the things that can change the system in our community),” said Librea.

Jeraldin Pisalbon, chairperson of the Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group (BDC-TWG) in Barangay Humayhumay, said the KALAHI-CIDSS has had a good impact within their community since the program is not just focusing on labor or projects but also on the development of the community.

Pisalbon stressed that through the KALAHI-CIDSS, their self-confidence has improved amidst a series of trainings and seminars before the implementation of sub-projects.

“Nagpasalamat pod ko og dako sa KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA kay na-improve ang among mga nagkalain-laing attitude sa community. And then ang sub-project nga naa sa amoang barangay, nakatabang gyud og dako sa among barangay kay nahimong easy among access (I am also very thankful to KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA because it improved our various attitudes in the community. And then the sub-project in our barangay, which is road, really helped a lot because our access becomes easy),” she said, adding that vendors can now sell fresh catch of fish using vehicles within their community.

For her part, Tacpao Barangay Captain Melinda Abraham thanked the DSWD for bringing KALAHI-CIDSS into their barangay, saying they have learned a lot about how to implement projects.

Abraham also expressed her hope that their barangay could soon follow the process of KALAHI-CIDSS, which she described as fast and easy.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting, unveiling of sub-project markers, and blessing for the city-wide turnover of the above-mentioned sub-projects were conducted in Barangay Binobohan, while the program proper and overall turnover of sub-projects were held at the Guihulngan City Complex.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns Arnel Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Loyola Jr., and Field Office VII Promotive Services Division Chief Rosemarie Salazar, who represented Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, graced the events.

City Mayor Filomeno Reyes also attended the activities, along with the barangay captains, community leaders and volunteers, among others. The heads of the Project Implementation Team (PIT) of the eight barangays were also present: Elsa Labrador, Planas; Roselyn Perolino, Binobohan; Jonjon Tejares, Trinidad; Rodelyn Montecino, Tacpao; Leonora Gelacio, Sandayao; Jeraldin Pisalbon, Humayhumay; Rolando Gemperoso, Hinakpan; and Eleanor Vejano, Imelda.

In his message, Asec. Garcia said they came to see for themselves the difference that KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA sub-projects can do in Guihulngan City, which is the only local government unit in Central Visayas under the said modality. PAMANA is the national government’s peace and development program mainly implemented in conflict-affected or conflict vulnerable areas.

The assistant secretary shared that they are looking for a formula in terms of peace and development, and he stressed that community volunteers and city officials may be the key to it.

Asec. Garcia noted that Guihulngan City is Level III, or Center of Excellence in terms of delivery of social services and development, which is why he suggested to the LGU to document their best practices in peace, as this may be considered as a benchmark.

The assistant secretary also emphasized that in DSWD, infrastructure is not the end but what changes in a person. He said if people only talk about the infrastructure or farm-to-market road construction, then it will be done by the DPWH, but why in the DSWD?

“Because the DSWD has transformation programs, the community is changing. It leads to a bigger change,” said Asec. Garcia. He added that KALAHI-CIDSS does not only change the situation of the barangays but the next generation.

Asec. Loyola Jr., for his part, said that through the KALAHI-CIDSS program, they have witnessed firsthand the power of participatory development, where communities are not just recipients but also active drivers of change.

“Let us continue harnessing the spirit of community development to address the challenges that lie ahead and to unlock the full potential of our beloved city. So let us remember that the true measure of our success lies not in the number of projects completed but in the lives we have touched and the communities that we have afflicted,” he said.

In his welcome remarks and message of support, Mayor Reyes acknowledged that Guihulngan City has a lot of poor people who need services, which is why he urged everyone, particularly the barangay leaders and community as a whole, to continue their cooperation with the government for a brighter future ahead. ###

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