The people of Purok Villarin, the coastal section of Brgy. Narangasan in Milagros, Masbate used to cringe in fear for their children’s safety.

Parents send their children to Day Care in three ways. They either choose Villarin’s decrepit and makeshift building along the sea, get to the neighboring purok with a 30-minute walk along the beach with the threat of waves during bad weather or get to neighboring community that will require them to cross a dilapidated wooden bridge.

Elvira Kalaw, one of the parents, joined the community to build their new Day Care Center through Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), a DSWD program that seeks to help alleviate poverty using the community-driven development (CDD) strategy.

Kalaw, originally from Roxas City who has been a resident of Villarin since 2000, admitted that the residents live in poverty. It is two kilometers away from the Brgy. Narangasan’s poblacion putting Purok Villarin in seclusion. This part of the community has no electricity and potable water as well.

Despite these woes, what makes her more concerned is to see the difficulty of the students aging three to five years old getting through a debilitating and dangerous trip just to get to school.

The municipality of Milagros, Masbate with a total of 27 villages, received Php36,833,300.00 for the implementation of 21 community sub-projects under Kalahi-CIDSS from 2014-2015. Brgy. Narangasan is a recipient of a Day Care Center under the said program which was identified as the priority need of Purok Villarin which was approved by the majority of its residents during community consultations and barangay assemblies.

Kalaw, a high school graduate, was able to lead a group of volunteers who managed the implementation and construction of the said building. Volunteers received trainings on Project Management, Community Procurement, Financial Management, Operation and Maintenance and Fiduciary Reporting.

“Maganda pala pag sumasama sa workshop dahil nalalaman mo yung hindi tinuro sa school,” she added.

Moreover, her exposure to different trainings and activities with the Barangay Council molded Kalaw’s confidence to speak about their needs.

The broken wooden bridge was replaced with a concreted one last February through the Local Government of Milagros which was lobbied by the people to the Barangay Council.

“May karapatan din kami na humingi ng tulong sa barangay council para sa purok naming,” she added.

According to Franslyn Tan, the DSWD staff assigned in Narangasan, Kalaw was a timid volunteer who seldom talk in the group but gradually developed her communication skills as they implemented their Day Care Center.

“Hindi yan si Nanay[Kalaw] nagsasalita pero natuto na siya mag voice out ng problema nila sa purok,” Tan added.

With the Day Care Center nearing its completion this year, the residents are looking forward that their children will no longer traverse dangerous terrains with a concreted bridge from the local government.

The most secluded part of Brgy. Narangasan proved that distance is not the hindrance to push for their own development. Their confidence was developed to speak out and took the courage to trust their local officials to respond to their pressing problems which proves how community participation can enliven empowerment of the people.