The days of dangerous trips and broken equipment are over for corn farmers in Barangay Sayog, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur. A gleaming new Mobile Corn Mill worth ₱935,000, delivered through the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS program, now stands ready to revolutionize how the community processes their harvest—ending years of struggle and opening doors to agricultural prosperity.

The project, funded primarily through a ₱925,000 KALAHI-CIDSS grant with a ₱10,000 local counterpart contribution from the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), was formally turned over to the community, particularly benefiting the Sayog Farmers Association.

During the turnover ceremony, BDC-TWG Chairperson Virginia Abadan shared the community’s previous challenges with corn milling. “We used to struggle with injuries from motor accidents, road mishaps, and endured countless hardships just to mill our corn,” Abadan recounted.

The new mobile corn mill addresses long-standing difficulties faced by local farmers, who previously had to travel long distances and risk safety hazards to process their harvest.

O&M Chairperson Joel Albellar emphasized the community’s dedication to the project’s longevity. “We will ensure that this project is well-maintained and properly cared for so it can last long and benefit more people,” he stated.

Barangay Captain Rene Dominique Quinones expressed unwavering support for the initiative, declaring, “Barangay Sayog will always support projects that benefit our people and promote development.”

Vice Mayor Wilma Ocapan reinforced this commitment, vowing to “still accept projects like this because they are for the people and the development of San Miguel.”

Area Coordinator Almer Madamba highlighted the importance of community cooperation, noting, “With good effort, cooperation, participation, and unity, every project will surely bear good fruit.”

San Miguel Mayor Ex D. Ocapan delivered a powerful reminder about the importance of project sustainability. “Don’t forget the experiences we went through to achieve this. This is how we understand the importance of sustainability. If neglected, the project will just be wasted and become disposable,” the mayor emphasized.

This successful turnover represents more than just infrastructure delivery—it symbolizes the power of community-driven development and collaborative governance. The Mobile Corn Mill is expected to significantly improve agricultural productivity, reduce operational costs for farmers, and contribute to the overall economic development of Barangay Sayog.

The project stands as a testament to the effectiveness of the KALAHI-CIDSS program in addressing genuine community needs through participatory development approaches, ensuring that investments directly benefit those who need them most.

For Barangay Sayog, this marks the beginning of a more productive and prosperous future.