Beyond Mountains, Rivers, DSWD Reaches Far-Flung Community in Aklan

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‎Libacao, Aklan- Sixteen river crossings, rugged mountain trails, and hours of exhausting travel did not stop the staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI (DSWD6) from reaching one of the most remote communities in Libacao, Aklan.
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‎The Local Government Unit of Libacao organized the Dalagsaan Serbisyo Caravan in Barangay Dalagsaan, a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA), bringing government programs and services closer to upland residents. Leading the DSWD delegation was Assistant Regional Director for Operations Katherine Joy M. Lamprea, along with personnel from various DSWD programs who braved the challenging journey to serve the community.
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‎To reach Dalagsaan, the team traveled for about an hour from the municipality of Libacao to Barangay Manika, then rode habal-habal motorcycles and crossed a river for another 40 minutes toward Sitio Agbatuan in Barangay Oyang. From there, the team trekked through rocky and elevated terrain, crossing the Aklan River around 16 times to reach the remote barangay.
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‎What seemed impossible for many became a mission of compassion and public service for the DSWD team.
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‎The Serbisyo Caravan served as a convergence of DSWD programs addressing the immediate needs of residents, including medical assistance, livelihood support, nutrition services, social protection, and infrastructure monitoring.
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‎Under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), residents requiring medical assistance were assessed and referred for possible support.
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‎The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) facilitated beneficiary validation, Family Development Sessions, PhilSys registration assistance, and birth certificate processing, serving hundreds of beneficiaries in the area.
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‎The Social Pension Program also conducted orientation and revalidation activities for senior citizens to ensure that eligible elderly residents in the remote community continue to receive social protection support. The activity likewise enabled the team to monitor the conditions and concerns of beneficiaries.
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‎Meanwhile, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) strengthened livelihood interventions through technical assistance and Micro-Enterprise Management Training for the Dalagsaan CAA Agribusiness SLP Association to support and improve its livestock project.
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‎The activity also revealed pressing challenges in the community. Inspections conducted by Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) staff identified deteriorating facilities, including the health station and day care center. The Supplementary Feeding Program also noted rising cases of undernutrition among children and inadequate facilities at the Child Development Center. ‎Despite these concerns, the activity opened opportunities for strengthened collaboration and intervention. KALAHI-CIDSS coordinated with barangay and municipal officials for the possible rehabilitation and sustainability of community facilities, while the Supplementary Feeding Program provided nutrition counseling and technical assistance to caregivers and child development workers to support the health and well-being of children.
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‎Beyond government assistance, ARDO Lamprea also extended personal donations to learners of Dalagsaan Integrated School by distributing shirts. Dental kits were likewise provided by the Philippine Dental Association Iloilo City Chapter through the efforts of Dr. Sofia T. Castor, bringing additional support and care to children in the community.
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‎Despite the difficult terrain and isolation, the Dalagsaan Serbisyo Caravan proved that government service can go beyond roads and rivers. Through convergence, commitment, and compassion, DSWD6 and its partners brought not only assistance but also hope to a community often left at the margins./dswd6/cdf/Glory Mae Panase

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