As told by Ernesto F. Bacay, BSPMC Chairperson

Brgy.Calategas, Narra, Palawan

 

Tears slowly welled up in my eyes as I recount my experience with Kalahi-CIDSS for the past months. Although not yet considered as tears of joy, I hope it can be soon. Nonetheless, it is a manifestation that what I have gone through, as well as my team, is far from easy.

I am glad that I have been part of something big such as Kalahi-CIDSS. Being voted as the Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson added more to my confidence, as well as built up my character. Engaging in the community-driven development process of Kalahi-CIDSS brought about unity in the barangay. People became more participative and active as they engaged in the same endeavor of addressing our need for clean water.

Our barangay proposed a Level II water system as a sub-project. We do not have access to clean potable water where almost all households have to fetch water from a murky source. This has also brought illnesses especially to children. Hence, this is the sub-project we came up with, which incurred a total amount of Php 3,210,000.00.

We undertook various trainings where we acquired knowledge in procurement and finance and applied what we learned in making the project. We sought help from our community facilitator every time we needed assistance, and she never failed to encourage and push us to do our best. We thought we could do just about anything, as long as the team remains intact and well-coordinated.

But the difficulty is yet to begin. When we thought that everything was going smoothly, it turned out otherwise. Our barangay failed four times in water testing. And three times in the bidding of sub-project materials. We could not be so unfortunate.

Failing in these incidents only meant frequent meetings to facilitate and prepare the necessary documents with the BSPMC and the barangay. We were eager to accomplish what is needed to start the sub-project immediately. I witnessed how everyone worked hard, day and night, just to go over through the documents and check what went wrong. The perseverance of the team inspired me to deliver just as well.

The frequency of meetings, however, did not sit well with my wife. She said that my time for the family has lessened ever since Kalahi-CIDSS came to the barangay. Little did I know that she took count of the times I am doing something for the said project.I argued that what I was doing was for the benefit of the whole community, and specifically for them. All these fell on deaf ears. She even made me choose between Kalahi-CIDSS and our family!

I almost gave up that time. I do not need to choose between the two. I knew right from the start that holding a responsibility in the project would require dedication and time to serve. I had no doubt that I can be a competent BSPMC Chairperson. What my wife did not know was that it was our family that served as my inspiration to go through all the challenges hurled on us by the project. I want my children to grow up with no worries as they will always have clean water. I would like to spare them from the difficulty of accessing clean water, which we had experienced.

I explained all this to my wife and she understood. The same is going smoothly with the sub-project, and we will be able to start it soon. I really couldn’t help but tear up, but this time, of joyous tears. ###