A pathway or road that traverses a village has been an important part of a community as it provides significant benefits, such as economy boost, safety, easier travel and movement of goods and agricultural products, and education.

Most of the communities proposed pathway, access trail or road as their subproject, which were funded under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

In 2024, the program has completed 295 pathways or access trails and 241 roads.

These subprojects not only provide access to basic services but also became a lifeline in times of medical emergencies.

According to Queenie Arcilla, a nurse in Garchitorena, Camarines Sur, traveling to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas was quite difficult, and people really faced challenges accessing health services.

The nurse shared that to reach an island or remote area in Garchitorena, they have to ride a boat and pass through the sea. Medical check-ups for the residents in those areas were only scheduled in the morning because that was the only time people could come due to the travel schedule.

“Pagna-miss nila yung travel na ‘yun, hihintay sila ng kinabukasan para makapagpacheck-up or maka-avail ng mga health services,” Queenie explained.

(So if people missed the trip, they had to wait until the following day to get a check-up or avail the health services.)

PATHWAY TO DEVELOPMENT

With the participation of community members in the planning, implementation, and sustainability, they were able to construct pathways or roads. One example is in Barangay Harrison.

“So ang kagandahan ngayon, mula noong nagkaroon ng pathways yung mga barangay like Harrison or Canlong, maghapon, may mga taong makakapunta para mag-avail ng health services unlike noon na morning lang.” Nurse Queenie said.

(The good thing now, since pathways have been built in barangays like Harrison, is that people can access health services throughout the day, unlike before when they could only do so in the morning.)

Nurse Queenie also added that the travel time from Harrison to downtown Garchitorena was shortened from one (1) hour to 20 minutes. She also noted that pathways have great benefits, particularly during medical emergencies.

“Hindi ka na maghihintay ng isang oras na magkasakit ka sa byahe ng dagat tapos kung nagkataon pa na malakas yung alon ng dagat minsan walang byahe. Magtitiis na lang yung tao na mamatay, ‘di ba? So ngayon kahit maulan, nakakapag-transfer  pa din sila dito sa centro para mag-avail ng health services,” she said.

(You no longer have to wait for an hour while sick during a boat ride. And if the waves happen to be strong, sometimes there are no trips at all. People would just have to endure, even if it meant risking their lives, right? But now, even when it’s raining, they can still transfer to the central area to avail of health services.)

Yoly B. Lara, 50, a community volunteer of Harrison and a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) shared her experience in implementing the pathway subproject, which was completed in 2018.

“Nahirapan po kami lalo na ako doon sa pathway. Example po sa pathway, talagang nahirapan po kami, kasi malayo po kami [at] sa tabing dagat na pagkukunan ng graba. Nahirapan kaming kumuha ng mga tao pero meron namang nagpumapayag na kumuha pero matagal. Kaya ang trabaho namin noon, putol-putol. Hindi tuloy-tuloy,” she recounted.

(We really had a hard time, especially me, with the pathway. For example, with the pathway, we really struggled because we were far from the source of gravel, which was by the seaside. It was difficult for us to find people to help, but there were some who agreed, though it took a long time. That’s why our work back then was intermittent. It wasn’t continuous.)

Despite the hardships, Yoly, together with the dedicated community volunteers and barangay officials persevered and never gave up.

BRIDGING GAPS ON NUTRITION

With the improvement in the access of health services, Yoly and the community of Harrison also addressed the problem of stunting and malnurition. With her drive to help the community, the volunteer became the Community Nutrition Subproject Management (CNSPMC) chairperson during the subproject implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP).

Harrison prioritized the implementation of the subproject, provision of amenities for Child Development Center for the growth and development of their children.

“Malaking tulong din po ‘yun sa amin kasi yung daycare namin dito, walang mga gamit tulad ng upuan, mesa, lahat incomplete sila. Pinagtatiyagaan lang para makapag-school sila…Saka kulang po talaga ‘yung mga gamit, wala pa pong CR. Diba, may CR dapat. Kaya malaking tulong po talaga kasi maganda na yung pinapasukan ng mga bata. May maganda na silang pinag-aaralan,” she said.

(It was also a big help for us because our daycare center didn’t have essential supplies like chairs and tables; everything was incomplete. We just used what we had so the children could attend school. Plus, there was a lack of facilities, and there wasn’t even a restroom, which is essential. That’s why it was a huge help because now the children have a better learning environment and a proper place to study.)

From implementing community-identified projects, Yoly learned a lot as a volunteer, particularly getting along with others, even with the people she didn’t know from different barangays.

“Marami akong nakilala na taga-ibang barangay kapag nagpapatawag ng meeting ang KALAHI-CIDSS. Marami po talagang pagbabago saka may natutunan din po ako kahit na sabihin pa na may pamilya na ako,” Yoly noted.

(I met many people from other barangays whenever KALAHI-CIDSS called for meetings. There have been many changes, and I have also learned a lot, even though I already have a family.)

In 2024, the Department has completed 1,702 subprojects under the PMNP. Most of the subprojects implemented were the Improvement of Child Development Centers, Provision of Amenities for Child Development Center, Sanitary or Communal Toilets, and Water System.

INTO THE FUTURE

As the village continues to make changes in the development of their community. The Rural Health Unit of Garchitorena is also intensely monitoring the households with pregnant women and children aged 0-2 years old with an aim to reduce stunting and improve nutrition and health status.

“Kaya ngayon ang dami naming activity na ginagawa para ma-promote yung pagpapahalaga sa first one thousand days para mas maganda ang future ng mga bata,” Nurse Queenie explained.

(That’s why we are implementing many activities to promote the importance of the first 1,000 days for a better future for children.)

With the pathway that acts as the bridge to progress and amenities for the Child Development Center that contribute to the development of future generations, these projects were made possible by power of collective action, which will also pave a way for a future where healthcare, nutrition, and opportunity are within everyone’s reach.

Now that people are more involved in their community development because they have the opportunity to participate in the planning, decision-making, and implementation process, this proves that real change begins when individuals are given that capability.