Residents of Barangay Kulasian in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay have constructed an IP Tribal Hall worth Ph1 million for the Samal and Subanen community under the Kalahi-CIDSS IP-CDD program of DSWD.

According to the Kulasian Indigenous Peoples Organization (KIPO) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) president Fernando Velasco “kami maningkamot nga among mahatag kung unsa man ang panginahanglanon diha sa pag-operate niini nga proyekto, ilabina ang pag-amping sa mga instrumento nga anaa lakip niini. Ipatuman ang mga palisiya ug balaod nga namugna aron mulungtad ang gihatag sa KC PAMANA IP-CDD”.

We will try to provide the things needed in the operation of this project, especially in ensuring the functionality of the instruments along with it. To implement the policies for the improvement of the sub-project provided by KC PAMANA IP-CDD.

The sub-project has been completed last December 30, 2019 and was formally turned-over to the community last January 29, 2020. This is under Batch 1 cycle 2 implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS IP-CDD which aims to prioritize IPs under targeted CADTs.

DSWD. through Kalahi-CIDSS, supports the PAMANA framework by providing micro-level interventions that promote the convergent delivery of services and goods focused on households and communities utilizing the Community-Driven Development (CDD) strategy. In 2017, OPAPP and DSWD agreed to expand the partnership under PAMANA to support a Community-Driven Development Program for Indigenous Peoples (IP-CDD). The project aims to deliver basic services to IP communities through supporting the implementation of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), strengthen partnership of local governance institutions and the Indigenous Political Structures and build communities resilience to conflict.

Residents of Barangay Kulasian in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay have constructed an IP Tribal Hall worth Ph1 million for the Samal and Subanen community under the Kalahi-CIDSS IP-CDD program of DSWD.

According to the Kulasian Indigenous Peoples Organization (KIPO) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) president Fernando Velasco “kami maningkamot nga among mahatag kung unsa man ang panginahanglanon diha sa pag-operate niini nga proyekto, ilabina ang pag-amping sa mga instrumento nga anaa lakip niini. Ipatuman ang mga palisiya ug balaod nga namugna aron mulungtad ang gihatag sa KC PAMANA IP-CDD”.

We will try to provide the things needed in the operation of this project, especially in ensuring the functionality of the instruments along with it. To implement the policies for the improvement of the sub-project provided by KC PAMANA IP-CDD.

The sub-project has been completed last December 30, 2019 and was formally turned-over to the community last January 29, 2020. This is under Batch 1 cycle 2 implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS IP-CDD which aims to prioritize IPs under targeted CADTs.

DSWD. through Kalahi-CIDSS, supports the PAMANA framework by providing micro-level interventions that promote the convergent delivery of services and goods focused on households and communities utilizing the Community-Driven Development (CDD) strategy. In 2017, OPAPP and DSWD agreed to expand the partnership under PAMANA to support a Community-Driven Development Program for Indigenous Peoples (IP-CDD). The project aims to deliver basic services to IP communities through supporting the implementation of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), strengthen partnership of local governance institutions and the Indigenous Political Structures and build communities resilience to conflict.

A Construction of Day Care Center (DCC) to Subanen Community was inaugurated last June 18, 2019 at Sitio Tilling, Purok Gemelina, Malubal in R.T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The turn-over ceremony was graced by the Local Government Unit of R.T. Lim headed by the outgoing Mayor Michael Piodena, Vice-Mayor Danilo Piodena and some Sangguniang members, together with the Barangay officials and Kalahi-CIDSS field staff.

The DCC with a total cost of Php1,152,067.25, is the 3rd of the 13 Sub-projects of R.T. Lim under LGU-led implementation that has been turned-over to the community.

According to BSPMC Chairperson Maria Teresa G. Dolendo, the old structure was no longer safe to the kids. The foundation of the old structure is too frail and the materials covering the old day care were all products of donation to the community.

Although there is another structure within the barangay, but it is too costly for the parents to send their kids to the next purok, which is too far away. To reach Sitio Tilling, one has to commute about 6 kilometers on a rough road from the barangay center of Malubal alone.

The road is not too friendly to the children during rainy season. There are portions where it gets too slippery and it tends to drag a person or even a motorcycle down into the mud and people experience difficulty in getting their farm produce out every time.

This is the reason why most of the Subanen in this area could not afford to send their children to school given all the struggles that they have to endure from poor facilities, to limited access and resources.

The volunteers of Malubal who are mostly not from Sitio Tilling felt the need to help send these Subanen children to school by providing them a convenient facility within their vicinity. This will help their children learn and create brighter future ahead of them.

The construction of Day Care Center is a good development to their place since they’ve been feeling like they were forgotten in terms of services from the government since they’re so far from poblacion.

The community volunteers are also grateful to the support provided by the Municipal Local Government of R.T. Lim and the Barangay officials as well.

With this, Barangay Chairperson Gilbert Salazar continuously encourages his Subanen constituents to come out and keep the participation going as this is the key to having their voices heard and knowing what they’ve wanted and needed. The construction of day care center is the second sub-project funded by Kalahi-CIDSS in Malubal. They were also a recipient of Road Concreting project under 1^st Cycle NCDDP implementation.

Imagine to have walked around 3 kilometers on a muddy ground from your home to the nearest hi-way doing your daily routine of either going to school, doing errands, attending to business or any form of livelihood, and many more. Sounds ordinary? But what if these 3 kilometers is an uphill- 3 hour climb? And a roadless one. These challenges are known to a lot of poor communities in the region that Kalahi-CIDSS serves.

But this is not the only case for a barangay in Kumalarang. Limamawan is an uphill barangay which has around 96 Subanen households. Located around 3 kilometers from the hi-way, at around 1,350 feet above sea level, the trail to and from the barangay entails a lot of adventure to the community and all the more to the people who visits the area for the provision of basic social services.

For one, they do not have road. The community created a path from which they can easily climb up and in going down. The terrain is too stiff and the path couldn’t sustain due to the excessive rainfall in the area that it washes away and turns into mud-like form. Once this turned muddy, it becomes too dangerous to pass, and it tends to become too slippery that if not careful, one could slip into the cliff.

“Mahirap ang buhay, lalo kapag magbababa ng benta, mga saging, kamote, utan. Lisod ang agianan , wala’y kuryente, solar lang source”, expressed by Marilou P. Tabiliran, BSPMC Chairperson of the said sub-project.

(Life is difficult, especially when we need to bring our produce downtown like banana, crops and vegetables. The road is hard to pass, no source of electricity, only by solar).

It is also equally dangerous on dry days, when one could be caught up in the middle of the scorching hit carrying heavy baggage, as the trail will tire you and dry you up.

But all these are their everyday grind. Bringing with them sacks of farm produce, most of the time it get wasted due to difficulty and inconvenience in transporting these downtown.

Most of them earn their living through farming, as the environment is suitable for growing crops, corn, and vegetables. Despite the meager income, through these they were able to feed their families and even send their kids to school.

However, they believe that they can do better with their harvest if the path is in good condition considering that they can’t make use of motorcycle or any form of vehicle in climbing.

During Cycle 3 Implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS, their proposed sub-project  “Concreting of Uphill Stairway” was prioritized. But the implementation was confronted with a lot of challenges particularly in the hauling of materials, the labor group, and the weather and terrain condition. All these had factored in the untimely completion of the sub-project. Just imagine the difficulty in bringing all these materials, sacks of cement, steelbar, metal roofing and wood at such height. But the community was so determined to finish the sub-project, to them it’s their most aspired project. So they tried to help in any possible way to get the job done with the help also of the Local Government.

By April 30, 2019, the Concreting of Uphill Stairway with 3 Interval Sheds was turned-over to the community. The sub-project which has a total cost of Php1,977,780.00 has a 1,950 concrete step with steel handgrip and interval sheds as resting station.       

 “Mas dali ang paglakaw , panahon sa ulan dili na danlug. Sa mga estudyante sayo na ang ilang pagnaog sa highschool. Sa mag-uma mapadali na ang pagagi kay dili na danlug sa panahon sa ulan”, shared by Marilou P. Tabiliran, BSPMC Chairperson of the said sub-project.

With the completion, the Limamawans is looking forward to a better returns of farm produce when transporting, safe passage for students, and easier access of basic social services come sunny or even rainy season.

Indeed for them, who have found shelter in the comfort of the mountain, climbing home is worth every step. Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty reduction program that aims to improve the delivery of social services in poor communities. Local residents are empowered to engage in planning and implementation of community projects that would best address their needs.

The Municipal and Barangay Local Government Unit of Siocon joined the Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC) on the ground-breaking ceremony of the 300 linear meter Road Concreting with Slope Protection sub-project at Sitio Tabuk, Makiang, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on April 8, 2019.

The said sub-project is under NCDDP Cycle 4 implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) with a total cost of Php3, 011,346.00.

The community sees the need for road concreting since most of the people who lives in Sitio Tabuk has been isolated due to inaccessible road condition. The completion of this sub-project is expected to create opportunity for farmers to carry out products to Poblacion and provide ease in access to basic social services for the community in Tabuk.

Barangay Makiang has also been a recipient of 80 linear meter Drainage Canal for cycle 1 with a combined KC grant and Local Cash Counterpart of Php730,367.00, Ricemill Building with Equipment for cycle 2 at Php1,333,406.00, and 2 unit 2 classroom High School building for cycle 3 at Php3,180,524.

BSPMC Chairperson Maria Venus Villaluna expressed her appreciation to the program, as said during an interview “Nalipay kaayo mi mag boluntir sa Kalahi bisan pa man sa kalisud kay daghan ug trainings, responsibilidad isip boluntir nga usahay ma byaan ang amuang panginabuhian, pero nalipay kame kay nakatabang mi sa amuang barangay. Gikan 1st cycle hangtud 4th cycle kame na prioritized maong daku kaayo mi ug pasalamat sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa DSWD ug sa suporta nga gihatag usab sa MLGU ug BLGU para ma mugna kining amuang mga projects”.

(We are happy to volunteer with Kalahi despite the difficulties on numerous trainings, with our responsibilities as volunteers sometimes we set aside our work, but we’re happy that were able to help our barangay. We were prioritized from 1^st cycle to 4^th cycle that is why we are very much appreciative on Kalahi-CIDSS, of DSWD and the support provided by MLGU and BLGU to realize these projects, said Villaluna).

Municipal Mayor Julius S. Lobrigas led the ground-breaking ceremony and followed by the unveiling of signage with Vice Mayor Nathaniel Usin, SB members and BLGU officials. ### (JGA)

A day-care center worth Php913,300.00 will be constructed in Barangay Sayog, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur following the ground-breaking ceremony attended and witnessed by the Barangay and Local Government Unit, and Community Volunteers on February 11, 2019.

The community proposed the sub-project during the LGU-Led (Cycle 4) Implementation of (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan– Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community-Driven Development Program) Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP with the purpose of replacing the old and damaged structure to a more convenient facility for day-care students of the barangay.

With around 40 students enrolled in 2018, the community volunteers, parents in particular were concerned on the welfare of their children given the poor condition of the structure. They claimed that the ceiling would leak during rainy days, windows are broken, limited number of chairs and the space is not enough for the students.

Through the construction of the Day-Care Center funded by DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP and the Local Government Unit of San Miguel, the community is looking forward to a safer and more convenient learning facility for their children. Expected to be completed by May of 2019, Barangay Sayog has also been a recipient of Solar Dryer with Storage sub-project amounting to Php824,504.00 under KC-NCDDP cycle 1. ### JGA