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DSWD turns over PHP13M high-impact projects in Madalag, Aklan
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Madalag, Aklan- 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) turned over more than Php13 million worth of high-impact community projects in Madalag, Aklan.
The turnover of projects was led by KALAHI-CIDSS Community Development Officer 4 Elizabeth Ferraris, Sangguniang Bayan members, community volunteers, and residents.
The Php13 million worth of subprojects include a 0.970-kilometer road with shoulders on both sides at Barangay Galicia and a 0.247-kilometer road with shoulders, slope protection, and ditch canal at Barangay Alas-as.
Both road projects are five meters wide and eight inches thick. Notably, the road project in Galicia also includes a Port Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) to enhance its sturdiness.
Galicia is a Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) barangay.
The road project there will not only benefit the residents of the said barangay but also the 24 remaining barangays in the municipality.
There are 87 direct household beneficiaries of the project in Galicia. The Aklanon-Bukidnon group in the nearby barangay of Ma. Cristina is also one of the identified beneficiaries.
More than 5,000 households will benefit from the Barangay Alas-as project.
Alas-as serves as an alternate route for the people during flooding in Barangay Poblacion. Poblacion is a low-lying and flood-prone barangay.
Ferraris, during the turnover rites, highlighted the importance of the community volunteers in the completion of the two high-impact projects. The existence of the community volunteers as well as the full support of the local government unit could not be undermined.
The agency could not initiate development changes in certain areas without the cooperation of the local government units, community volunteers, residents, and barangay local government units in implementing the community projects in various barangays.
The completed subproject is a by-product of participation, transparency, and accountability, which connotes empowerment among the stakeholders, said Ferraris.
Ferraris also lauded the participation of the barangay local government units, residents, and women workers in all KALAHI-CIDSS-funded projects in Madalag since its pilot implementation.
The town of Madalag is one of the two pilot municipalities in the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS with funding support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in 2011.
Ferraris lauded the participation of the community, especially of the women in the said municipality. She recalled that several women were trained in welding and masonry and became instrumental in the completion of school buildings.
On his part, Sangguniang Bayan member Nagtalon expressed gratitude to KALAHI-CIDSS for providing the unmet infrastructure needs of the municipality in improving the lives of the people especially those in the hinterland barangays.
KALAHI-CIDSS has funded several community projects in the municipality which range from schools, roads, bridges, health stations, and concrete pathways among others.
The completed subprojects at Barangay Galicia and Alas-as were turned over to their respective Operations and Maintenance Groups.
Alas-as Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group (BDC-TWG) Chairperson, Criselda Nabiong narrated the difficulties in participating as one of the community volunteers, rendering services to the community without monetary consideration.
Nabiong shared that she had to cross a river to go to the town proper to attend seminars and pieces of training for KALAHI-CIDSS. The procurement process and actual implementation of the project also tested her resilience.
Despite difficulties, Nabiong made the challenges her inspiration to push through the completion of the subproject.
Today, they have only good things to say after what they have gone through.#
