Communities in Lila, Bohol, received projects from the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) modality of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS). This is a program of DSWD that helps poor municipalities improve their livelihoods as well as address the lack of access to basic social services.

The local government unit of Lila received a community grant of Php 7.6 million from the KKB modality of the KALAHI-CIDSS to fund community projects that will cater to the needs of family beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2P), a program of DSWD that provides holistic interventions to families affected by the pandemic. LGUs that availed of these funds must have at least 25 families from highly urbanized cities who lost their jobs from pandemics and returned to their respective provinces for good.

Through consultation with different stakeholders, including the communities and BP2P beneficiaries, the Php 7.6 million funds received by Lila were decided to put up a health station in Macalingan and concrete four farm-to-market roads totaling 0.655 km in Bonkokan Ilaya, Candulang, Lomanoy, and Calvario to respond to their communal needs.

Prior to the turnover of these sub-projects on January 26, 2023, Lila also received a 14-unit isolation facility worth Php 9.3 million, funded by the Additional Financing (AF) modality of the program. This modality provided the LGU with support and augmented its resources in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

All these projects are the result of the community-driven development strategy that the KALAHI-CIDSS employs and LGU Lila adopts in order to promote empowerment and participation among volunteers in communal activities leading to the completion of their chosen projects that best respond to their needs.

Lila Mayor Atty. Arturo A. Piollo II, who led the inauguration, thanked DSWD for responding to the call of communities and leading the way for his constituents to participate in the KALAHI-CIDSS activities. “Pinaagi sa mga proyekto sa DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS, inyong gipakita ang pagtinabangay, a “spirit of selflessness” nga wala gyud naglantaw kung unsa kalisod ang trabaho ug kahago, mapaabot lang ang mga proyekto nga angay sa katawhan (you have shown how cooperation really works through the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS projects, a “spirit of selflessness” that does not see how difficult and hard the work is, as long as you can deliver the projects needed by the people),” said the mayor.

He further emphasized that the values of “pagtinabangay,” or collaboration, can be the guiding principle to achieve development. “Mao ni akong gusto i-inculcate sa matag usa dinhi sa Lila aron molambo kita. Timailhan kini sa importante nga pamatasan nga atong ipakita isip usa ka Lilahanon (This is what I want to instill in everyone so that we can grow as a town. This is a sign of an important behavior that we can show as Lilahanon),” cited Piollo.

In response, DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Juanito C. Cantero remains firm in calling for more volunteers to join the KALAHI-CIDSS program and grow its advocacy for people’s empowerment. “Nasugdan na ang pagtinabangay ug atong gilaoman nga malig-on kini apan dako pa ang atoang trabahoonon, daghan pa nga mga pobreng komunidad ang nanginahanglan (You have already started the cooperation in your community, but there is still so much to be done because there are still many poor communities that need our help),” Cantero enthused.

For Director Cantero, the projects produced by community volunteers through the KALAHI-CIDSS program are the true essence of “pagtinabangay,” a value shared by the people of Lila in creating a development they all want to see.

Meanwhile, a volunteer and recipient of the BP2 program’s assistance packages, Marla Flor C. Biangcong says that her return to the province will not only give her family the interventions they need but also their community. “Isip usa ka benepisyaryo sa BP2P, nagpasalamat ko kay dili lamang tabang alang sa akong pamilya ang akong nadawat apan nakatampo usab ang among pag-uli og dugang proyekto para sa among komunidad (As beneficiary of BP2P, I am thankful because not only did I receive help for my family but also contributed to projects that our community can benefit from),” she said.

In addition to meeting their needs and improving their quality of life, the small-scale infrastructure projects also lay the foundation for a true community-driven development where people can help find solutions to their pressing needs.

On the other hand, the community organizing through which the KALAHI-CIDSS operates paved the way for a movement of “pagtinabangay” and active citizenry that the town of Lila now considers their advocacy and will continue to live as long as the KALAHI-CIDSS’ process of community-driven is in place. ###

 

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