KALAYAAN, Palawan- A total of 27 households are enumerated in the recent assessment conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA in barangay Pagasa, municipality of Kalayaan.

The said assessment is part of the government’s databasing of poor families for potential social protection programs intervention through Listahanan, the mechanism of mapping out who and where the poor are nationwide.

In 2009 during the first nationwide assessment, Kalayaan was excluded. “Nagpapasalamat kami dahil ngayon, nakarating na ang DSWD dito sa aming isla sa kabila ng layo nito”, said Rizen Galva, one of the island residents.

Delivery of social services to Kalayaan remains a challenge due to its geographical distance.  The island can be reached either by boat or plane on which residents usually travel thru a government- owned ship which takes three to four days going to Puerto Princesa Palawan vice-versa.

Adhering to the goal of no should be left behind towards development, DSWD has reached Pagasa in coordination with the Naval Forces North West (NAVFORWEST) on November 24, 2015. Pagasa is the only barangay in the said municipality.

To date, DSWD is only implementing Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in Kalayaan together with the local government unit. SFP is the additional food provision to day care children, a mechanism to reduce extreme hunger and malnutrition in the country.

“Sana ang pagpunta ng DSWD ay ang susi para magbukas ang iba pang programa ng ibang sangay ng pamahalaan dito sa Kalayaan”, a hopeful resident said.

The municipality is a picture of isolation where health and education services are insufficient and still inaccessible.###