One of the many things that the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) does is to advocate participation among members of the community wherein they become part of a volunteer group that identifies solutions based on their needs.

San Francisco, one of the four municipalities in the islands of Camotes, considered a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) in the northern part of Cebu, implements KALAHI-CIDSS by pooling volunteers to work on a project intended to respond to the pandemic and other needs in their communities.

In Barangays Southern Poblacion and Northern Poblacion, constituents volunteered to identify and come up with an isolation facility to help them prepare for when COVID-19 cases will rise again. These facilities are completed with amenities, supplies, and equipment with a combined value of PHP 17.1 million, funded through the program’s grant and the counterpart contribution of LGU San Francisco.

Through the KALAHI-CIDSS, these volunteers underwent training, from pitching an idea and procurement of materials to monitoring the construction.

Leonisa Anciano, volunteer in Brgy. Northern Poblacion, labored without any compensation but hoped to see development in her community. “Lisod ang mahimong boluntir sa KALAHI, labi na gyud nga usa ko ka Day Care Worker. Apan dili ni babag nga maningkamot ko aron mahuman ang among proyekto. Bisan kinsa o bisan asa kami ipatawag, basta kabahin sa among proyekto, madasigon mi nga motambong kay para man kini sa among tanan.” Leonisa mentioned during the turnover ceremony that being a volunteer for KALAHI is difficult, especially that she works as a daycare worker, but that doesn’t stop her from finishing the project.

The isolation facility is fitting for the town’s preparation to accept more visitors, with travel restrictions being loosened for both local and foreign visitors since they mainly rely on tourism.

During the turnover ceremony on August 31, 2022, Municipal Mayor Alfredo A. Arquillano, Jr. said they are ready to welcome tourists, and with the completed facilities from KALAHI-CIDSS, he ensured that health measures are in place as the town reopens to visitors.

“Dakong kalipay para namo dinhi sa San Francisco kining mga proyekto bisan pa man anaa na ta sa new normal pero wala kini nagpasabot nga wala na gyud ang pandemya. Apan kining proyekto nga among nadawat, motabang kini kanamo sa pagsulbad sa maong hagit . (We are truly grateful for these projects here in San Francisco, even though we are now in the new normal, but this does not mean that the pandemic is gone. But this project that we received will help us in this challenge),” the mayor added.

Some may think of KALAHI-CIDSS as a program that empowers people, but it is also built on trust and hope for a better community. For many San Fransciscohanons, it propagates a culture of volunteerism that in fact spurred growth in their town and benefitted not only a few but the entire community where projects are situated and responded to people’s needs.

One of the program’s long-time partners, Melvin Formentera, shared during the turnover ceremony his experience in the program in which he helped build a classroom that has now become an elementary school. “Sukad nga nisulod ang KALAHI-CIDSS diri sa among lungsod, dako kaayog kabag-ohan ang nahatag niini diri kanamo – nasemento ang mga sudlonon nga mga karsada ug ang primary school kaniadto nahimo nang elementarya karon. Kini tanan nahimo tungod sa pag-boluntir namo (Since KALAHI-CIDSS came to our town, it has brought a lot of change—roads were paved, and the primary school back then is now an elementary school. All these were done because of us volunteers),” he said.

With the volunteers’ experience in the program, many are inspired by how ordinary people can be part of the change. KALAHI-CIDSS’ advocacy to empower and lead communities in the formulation of development will continue to exist and will help future generations to come. ###

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