Kalahi-CIDSS Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chair Rey E. Jaboneta observes the Construction of the 200 linear meter drainage line canal in his village in Barangay New Panay, Maragusan, Compostela Valley.

MARAGUSAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY -Amidst the heat and humidity, the people of Barangay New Panay were overwhelmed as they finally witnessed the Turnover and Blessing of the drainage canal community project that they’ve been working on for the past few months.

Held in New Panay Elementary School, said turnover of the 200 linear meter drainage line canal was attended by Mayor Caesar C. Colina Sr., Barangay Captain George Jacosta, barangay officials, family beneficiaries, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Regional Director for Operations Ma. Vilia L. Vigil, Kalahi-CIDSS Community Development Specialist Mr. Nick Elvi Digol, teachers, students, and Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers.

Kalahi-CIDSS, now known as National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) is the flagship program of DSWD along with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

It is a poverty reduction project where decision-making resides in the community.

Volunteers, through the NCDDP Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC), are taught to analyze their situation, identify their needs, manage their finances and procure materials for their prioritized sub-project.

This drainage project here was initiated to alleviate problems that hinder the community from attaining economic stability as it aims to mobilize the people’s active participation in implementing projects.

For the past years, the community struggled with their recurrent drainage problem. The water would continuously overflow when heavy rains pour in the barangay.

Students, especially, would suffer from this because the flood also seeps into their classrooms leading to high rate of absenteeism.

Consequently, students will be deprived of education -the higher the illiteracy rate, the bigger the chance that the economy of the community would waver.

“Students are our investment to attain a better life in the future. We agreed on a project that would serve as a foundation in reducing poverty. Poverty is like a cycle in the community and we want to cut the chain,” Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chair Rey E. Jaboneta explained.

Mayor Caesar Colina stressed, “No words could contain my happiness, for this project helped my constituents in New Panay. The project embodies transparency. Despite the differences that surfaced during the planning stage, the community has put their acts together and now I am very happy to announce that this project, through the help of Kalahi-CIDSS, finally came to reality.”

One of the Community Volunteers Mary de Guzman said, “It’s hard to determine the main problems that we have in the community. There were different opinions from left to right. But through the process of Kalahi-CIDSS, it became easier for us in identifying our primary needs and how to address these.”

Even the children in the village were pleased. Their boisterous sounds of laughter were heard all over the place, heralding that their own community is once again taking another leap towards progress.

Along with the turnover, DSWD also conducted a Municipal Orientation as Kalahi-CIDSS/NCDDP starts another cycle in the municipality. (DSWD)