In the quiet, mountainous Barangay Amancion in Catmon, the air is thick with memories of hardship. There was rough and dangerous terrain between their homes and the town, creating a struggle to access basic services.  Determined to spare her children from such tragedies, Liezyl became a community volunteer, eager to contribute to any effort that would change the fate of her barangay. “I couldn’t stand the thought of my children suffering the same fate,” she says, her resolve evident in her eyes. “This wasn’t just for my children — it was for the community.”

Her opportunity to make a difference came when KALAHI-CIDSS, a community-driven development program under the DSWD, initiated a project to concrete the access road in Barangay Amancion. The project was a beacon of hope for Liezyl and her neighbors, an assurance of a safer, better future. Liezyl’s husband, alongside other community members, put in the work to complete the road. It was hard work, but it was worth every drop of sweat.

On August 23, 2024, the community gathered for the inauguration and turnover of the 485-meter access road. Representatives from the MLGU of Catmon and KALAHI-CIDSS staff from the field and RPMO joined the excited leaders and community volunteers of Barangay Amancion in celebrating this milestone. For Liezyl, a 33-year-old mother of five, it was more than just a new road—it was a lifeline. The memories are more than just stories—they are haunting reminders of the lives that slipped away because of the treacherous, inaccessible roads that once defined her community.

In 2010, as the dawn broke over the rugged landscape, tragedy struck Liezyl’s family. Her elder sister, full of hope and expectation, was about to bring a new life into the world. But that hope turned to despair as the family faced the haunting reality of their situation. The rough, muddy, and almost inaccessible path down the mountain, the only route to medical care, became an insurmountable barrier. Wrapped in a blanket, Liezyl’s sister was carried down the steep, rocky terrain in a desperate attempt to reach help. But the journey took hours carrying a pregnant woman in labor. By the time they arrived at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, it was too late. The baby didn’t survive the long trip. Soon after, her sister succumbed to an infection caused by the dead fetus inside her body. It was a heartbreaking, unimaginable loss—one that could have been prevented with better roads.
The memory of that day is etched in Liezyl’s heart. She trembles recalling one of the darkest days of the Tigbawan Family. This wasn’t the only time the unforgiving road claimed a heavy toll on her family. Liezyl’s father, a hardworking farmer, suffered a severe leg wound while tending to his crops. Once again, the family had to carry him down the mountain, fearing that the blood loss might take him from them too. Although he survived, the ordeal was a stark reminder of the danger they faced every day.

Now, when Liezyl walks on the smooth, concrete path, she does not just see a road. She sees her sister, her father, and the future she is building for her children. She thanked the DSWD and KALAHI-CIDSS for empowering her community to take charge of their development. She hopes to continue participating in future community development initiatives from DSWD to see Barangay Amancion progress even further.

For Liezyl, the road is not just a path—it’s a promise. A promise that no one in her community will have to face the horrors she endured, and a promise of a brighter, safer future for her children and for generations to come. ###

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