During my recent visit to San Pascual, Burias, Masbate and after my visit to some of the projects of the DSWD. I was inspired to write (though I’m not a good writer) about the development and transformation in the town.

The first time that I set foot in the town was in 1975 where I was hired as Day Care Worker, the first day care worker under the First Lady Integrated Program (FLIP) of Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Since there was no pre-school in town, I had almost 50 toddlers enrolled that I had to conduct in two sessions. I enjoyed my work especially that I have love for children but the problem was the absence of structure where I can conduct the session. The church was my temporary classroom but if the church is unavailable I bring the children to the house or we conduct the session under the tree. The implementation of the program was a success.

In 1979, I was hired as Welfare Aide with the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). I was first assigned in Claveria, Masbate with the same position and was later transferred to San Pascual, Masbate. Life in the area for a field worker and even to the residents was hard. The town has 22 barangays of which three of whom are interior barangays while the rest are coastal villages. It could only be reached by land on sunny days, meaning better travel to it by sea. As a service provider in a welfare agency means that it is a must to go out on field, assess the community and deliver the programs and services of the department to the community.

One funny experience that I had is when I was about to conduct a session on parent effectiveness service in Boca-Chica of the same town. One could reach the place by sea transport and even a small banca will do since the barangay is just across the town’s port. However, the activity is an interior “ sitio” of which I need to hike about 5 kilometers. Having just returned to work after two months maternity leave, I was not allowed to go on foot. Instead, I was asked to ride in a carabao sledge. The trip was exciting but difficult since we have to trek a rocky road with “ talahib”, a wild tall grasses. Suddenly I was surprised when I found myself with the carabao in a muddy canal where the carabao has to “freshen”. I was covered with mud that I have to take a shower, stay under the sun just to dry myself. What was funny was that my slipper was lost so I have no choice but to conduct the session with wet clothes and barefooted.

Going out in the field is really a sacrifice with the kind of terrain in the area. In going to the interior barangay, one has to trek the rocky and sloppy hills. There are no road opening. There is no available vehicle in town. Likewise there is also difficulty in going to the coastal areas especially during monsoon season since it is a risk in traversing a big waves hence there is no choice but to take the risk or at times, we have to reach the area by foot. The trail is dusty during dry season and a first class carabao trail on wet season. There was no power supply, what we have is the “gacera” to illuminate our house even in the street.

I could also vividly recall that the constituents lack the drive and aggressiveness to improve their living conditions especially those in the far flung barangays. The families lived simple lives aspiring for not much in life and in the future.

However, the families know how to feed its households and some also aspire for a better future for their children thus sending them to school. But the geographical condition of some barangays hinders the school children in going to school especially those who will pass through the coastal village especially when its high tide. There was also scarcity in water supply

The Transformation

During my recent visit in the municipality, I was greatly amazed by the development which I saw. I visited four barangays to get pictures of the PAMANA projects and gather data and interview beneficiaries which I could use in coming up with a feature story. One is Barangay Busing. In going to the barangay one would traverse from the town’s port to a coastal village. The trip is about 15 minutes. If before there is a difficulty in getting a boat ride, nor there are enough boat who could ferry the passengers. Then there are already motorbikes waiting near the coastline which would bring the people to the barangay proper. Just to be able to reach the barangay, one would hike at least five kilometers and cross river but now there is a road opening, concreted path walk, a PAMANA funded project.

According to a resident, Annaliza Frias, there is no more difficulty in bringing the farm products to the town and the students have find ease in going to the school. It also provided employment to the motorcycle owners.

Barangay Nazareno is another barangay I visited, there was a great change in the look of the barrio. There is already a regular transport bringing the passengers back and forth to the Poblacion and nearby barangays. There is already a concrete road of which the portion of it is a PAMANA funded projects and the rest is LGU funded. I was able to talk with one of the barangay folk, Rosita Sario, 73 years old. She shared the happiness brought by the government to their barangay. According to her, the DSWD is one among who has invested several project in the barangay. (“Igwa na kami tubig sa mga harong- harong (We already have enough supply of potable water at home.)

According to the town’s Chief Executive Zaki Lazaro, government’s projects has brought total development in the municipality. When the KALAHI-CIDSS was introduced in 1979 and going through the process brought several development projects like; provision of level II water system, path walks, concrete roads, provision of sanitary toilet and with the PAMANA projects it illuminate several barangays. The installation of solar street lights and a foot bridge. Day Care Centers were made available in all barangays. As I look back, I was asking myself why there was no existing facilities during these time when I was still assigned in the area.

The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program has also brought major changes and touched the lives of the poor.

I got excited at the sudden turn of events, jolted by realization. Never has such a government projects meant so much to the people and brought prospect for development. # # #eejerusalem