Life is full of choices. There are many points in life that we need to choose between X or O, Yes or No, or Push or Pull. We have to carefully decide on our choices as it will greatly change our future. We have infinite choices and infinite outcomes that will certainly define our life as a human being.

We have many chances to figure out our status either to remain single or get married. We have the right if we wish to have one child or more. We have the ability to think about whether we have to work endlessly to meet our needs or laze around.

But, being a woman can be a gift, something innate or a choice.

Through the years, Philippines are making efforts on creating gender-responsive governance by promoting the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710), a comprehensive women’s rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and protecting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sector.

The country is also doing equity measures to enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs for national, regional, and local development.

With these efforts, many women are experiencing privileges particularly in the implementation of programs in the local development. One of the many women who is experiencing this kind of equity measure is Fe Biton, 47, a solo parent with five (5) children of Brgy. Calayucay in Sto. Domingo, Albay.

She is an active community volunteer of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) for three years.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty alleviation program of DSWD which uses community-driven development strategy for barangays or communities of targeted municipalities become empowered to achieve improved access to services and to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation.

Biton is also part of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in which three of her children in high school and elementary receive education and health grants.

Despite all these, her husband abandoned Biton and their children in 2016 whom she assumed had fled with another woman, a dreadful happening that made a great scar in her heart.

From this circumstance, she stands firm and sees it as a test for their family.

Biton still continues to work as a laundrywoman for nine (9) years at a local resort in Sto. Domingo, Albay. Since she only takes home P150 a day in her laundry work, she provides assistance in catering services for additional income. Through this, she was able to fill the absence of her husband who should have a shared responsibility in nurturing their children.

“Mahirap pero kinakaya siyempre, kailangan mong sikapan (It’s hard but we are coping. Of course, we need to work diligently),” Biton expounded.

FIRST STEPS

As a community volunteer, Biton worked as a chairman of Monitoring and Inspection Team (MIT) that monitors the progress of sub-project implementation proposed by their community and ensures the deliveries of items or goods purchased are properly stored.

At first, she doubted joining DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS because she thought it is a waste of time especially when she has children to take care and work to earn a living.

“Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung gusto ko o hindi kasi may mga anak ako at naglalabada ako kung saan nakakaistorbo ng oras at wala naman akong makukuha kahit piso, tulong mo lang talaga (Before, I have doubts on whether to join as a volunteer or not, because I will not receive anything in return),” she explained.

From these doubts, she took the chance yearning for a new chapter of her life.

In order to balance her work and volunteering, she would ask permission from her boss that in her free hours, she could render her services as a volunteer for the project.

According to Biton, everything has changed when she started as a volunteer because she learned many things she thought she never did.

“Kasi dati nung labandera ako, hindi ko alam may kakayanan ako na gawin katulad ng paghawak ng materyales pangkonstruksyon para sa proyekto (When I was a laundrywoman, I don’t have any idea that I have the ability to manage the construction materials for the project),” she said.

Taking that choice was never easy because she was faced with criticisms questioning her ability as a volunteer. Despite disapproval from others, she showed off her ardent attitude in helping the community.

“Sabi nila housewife lang ako wala naman daw magagawa pero doon ako naglakas loob na gusto ko ipakita sa kanila na kaya ko makatulong (Some said that I’m just a housewife who has nothing to contribute but I earned my confidence in order to show them my determination to help others),” she furthered.

THE IMPRINT THROUGH KALAHI

The village was able to construct a drainage canal along Calayucay Elementary School.

The community volunteers also aim to finish the construction of school building under DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS.

In every project, there are challenges that arise in which the villagers of Brgy. Caluyucay is not an exception from experiencing it.

Some problems encountered were the availability of volunteers for regular meetings and division of labor.

“Medyo kami nahirapan lalo na yung mga volunteers na hindi naman lahat available sa meeting at hindi pwedeng gagalaw lang isa dapat lahat sila tulong-tulong (We experienced difficulties especially when volunteers are not available during meetings. Everyone must work together and not just only one person),” Florendo Muhammad Ali Gregorio, barangay captain of Caluyucay.

According to Biton, they often called a meeting in order to talk about possible actions to resolve the problems.

“May konting debatehan pero hindi na namin ito pinapatagal kasi gusto namin masolusyunan agad (We have a little debate but we didn’t prolong it because we want to resolve the problem as soon as possible),” Biton shared.

She also described her experience as a volunteer.

“Minsan gusto mo na magwalk-out parang ayaw mo na mag-volunteer kasi nakakapagod pero kung nakatulong ka sa barangay mo, kapwa mo parang nakakataba ng puso (There are instances that I want to walk out and leave the group because of exhaustion but helping the community and fellow citizens makes me feel fulfilled),” she asserted. /ramsertan/

About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS

Albay has implemented Kalahi-CIDSS in eight (8) municipalities with a total implementation grant of Php 362,731,221.69 and local counterpart contribution of Php 7,299,127.53 from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.

DSWD had allocated Sto. Domingo with Php 49,445,322.98 with a counterpart from the LGU of Php 10,630.50.

Brgy. Calayucay was able to construct a drainage canal with a total project cost of Php 163,508.50 serving 170 household beneficiaries.

Similarly, the village is constructing one (1) unit of three (3) classrooms Marcos-type building and one (1) unit of three (3) classrooms RPUS-type building with a total project cost of Php 4,105,546.00 that will serve 142 household beneficiaries.

For more details about DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, follow this link: http://ncddp.dswd.gov.ph/site/faqs