Bayanihan is one of the qualities of Filipinos that transcends to different ethnic groups. It was witnessed in the town of Busuanga, in the barangay of Concepcion wherein people, despite the difference in their culture cooperated to achieve their common goal—development for their community.

The barangay of Concepcion homes different ethnic groups such as Cuyonin, Tagbanuas from Calamian islands, and migrants from the island of Mindoro. These people are often divided and have their own opinions on different community matters. Nevertheless, they know the need of their community for a paved road.

When the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi CIDSS) came to Concepcion, people are quite skeptic, Alvin Baringue, one of the community volunteers said “noong dumating ang kalahi, madami kaming agam agam, sabi pa ng mga tao, kung ano ano nalang ang dinadala na proyekto ng DSWD sa aming lugar.” [“ when kalahi came, we have doubts, the people even said that DSWD brings bizarre projects to our community.”]. Nevertheless, when the program was explained to them during the barangay assembly, Perez said that he saw the eagerness of the people to participate to the program.

Baringue added “natuwa kami noong malaman namin na hindi lang pala project ang dala ng kalahi kung hindi may kasama syang mga training para mapagaling pa ang kakayanan ng mga tao na mag nanais na mag volunteer sa programa” [“we are glad when we learned that kalahi does not only bring project but it also has trainings that would improve the skills of the people who would wish to volunteer to the program”].

From the barangay assembly, the people of Concepcion identified the program they wish to have for their community—a concreted road with canals that would connect the boat landing towards the barangay road. The barangay chairperson of Concepcion said that the road has an economic significance to the community as the road was used mainly by fishermen to sell their fresh caught to market. He added that the road was also served as a passageway for the Tagbanuas from Calamian to reach the mainland from Sitio Depelenged.

Though the program was warmly accepted by the community, its start was not easy. The people were new to the system of Kalahi CIDSS and often times they get confused on the process. There were times when the volunteers still are hesitant to take on their roles as the voice of community and are sometimes reluctant to accomplish their tasks. Community Empowerment Facilitator Fatima Kaye Magbanua said that  it takes passion and perseverance to make the volunteer realize that they have a voice in the community. “ Pinili sila ng taong bayan dahil kinakitaan sila ng potensyal na mamuno at I representa ang komunidad.” [“they are chosen by the people because the people saw their potential to lead and represent the community.’]. Said Ms. Magbanua. Consequently, this collaborative effort of Ms. Magbanua to guide the volunteers and the volunteers’ willingness to have the project yield a fruitful result—both had benefit the community and the individual volunteers.

Estrella Macanas, a member of the project implementation team said that her confidence has boost when she volunteered to Kalahi CIDSS “Napaka mahiyain ko noon, hindi ako nakikipag sa mga hindi cuyonin pero nung nagging volunteer na ako ng Kalahi nakita ko na kailangan makipag usap sa kahit hindi ko kasamamahan na cuyonon dahil kailangan na malaman rin namin ang gusto nila para sa proyekto.” [“ I was very shy before and I don’t talk to non-cuyonins but when I volunteered to Kalahi I saw the need to talk to others even they do not belong to the same ethnicity as me because we need to know what they wanted for the project.”].

Clemente Miranda, one of the members of procurement team admitted that volunteering for Kalahi CIDSS has consumed a lot of his free time. “Mas maayos na rin na nagagamit ko yung mga oras na libre ako sa mga makabuluhang bagay.” [“It was better that I used my free time doing meaningful activities.”]. Said Belis, in addition, he and his colleagues in procurement team, though having different ethnicities had diligently work together to perform their volunteer duties well as they do not wish to bring their people down. He added, “Nung nag PPM kami, talagang inalala naming yung mga bagay na dapat naming gawin dahil ayaw naming mapahiya sa komunidad, ayaw naming umasa sila saw ala at ayaw rin naman namin na maging katatawanan.” [“During the Pre-Procurement Meeting (PPM)we remembered all the stuff that we need to do because we do not want to be embarrassed to the community and we don’t want them to hope in vain and became a laughing stock.”]. 

The volunteers have showed to the community their interest in implementing the project by actively doing their duties and responsibilities. And with their shared efforts, their project concreting of the 110 meter barangay road with 0.11 linear meter canal was completed.

This effort was seen exemplary by the barangay council of Concepcion thus they gave their full support and guidance to these community volunteers. “Hindi matatawaran yung sakripisyo ng mga volunteers kasi minsan kahit ginagabi na sila ng pag-upo sa council meeting ay makikita mo na nasa kagustuhan talaga nila na mapatupad yung proyekto.”    [“The sacrifices of the volunteers are priceless, as sometimes they stay to the council meeting even it lasted until night and you can see their eagerness to have this project because of this dedication.”]. Said Reynante Arceo, the barangay chairperson of Concepcion.

The project has served as a symbolism not only to the development that the community sought by having road concreted, but it also served as a proof that amidst ethnic diversity a shared will can bring a unified development in a community.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) is one of the core poverty alleviating programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that aims to reduce poverty, improve access to basic social services, and promote good governance by involving the people, mostly the vulnerable sectors to the local planning and decision making in the community.

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