If you had a chance to choose between an untrodden path or smooth highway, which one would you choose?
Is it the path less traveled or the accessible concrete road? Considering a number of advantages, one will choose the concrete road, the one traveled by many as compared to a path which is not open and difficult to walk on or drive through. We prefer the easiest way to get to our destination rather than experience troubles during our journey. But a different scenario was given to the people of Barangay Mainit in the municipality of Bato, Camarines Sur.
They would rather take the risk getting through the tough path just to reach the town proper for work or even school.
Barangay Mainit is one of the poorest barangay out of the 33 barangays in the municipality with 59 households.
The barangay is located in a very remote place with a distance of 11 kilometers starting from Bato town proper.
Residents cross two towns namely, Nabua and Balatan to reach their secluded abode. Upon reaching Brgy. Palo in Balatan, they have to walk for one hour and 15 minutes going to Mainit.
According to former Mayor Jeanette Bernaldez, the barangay experienced difficulties in accessibility and delivery of goods and services because there are no existing roads to connect the village to their own town.
In an interview with Evelyn Gazon, 42, housewife, she narrated that the path going to the barangay was only meant for carabaos to walk on since it is very muddy during the rainy season. She furthered that they sometimes experience floods just to reach their barangay.
“Yung iba nga po kumakain na lang sa daan dahil sa inaabot na sila ng gutom bago makaakyat sa amin dahil nga po sa mahirap ang daan (Some people eat in the middle of their journey to the village)”, she said.
Even the children find it difficult to tread the muddy path.
According to Gazon, their teachers often give consideration to students from Barangay Mainit to attend school even though their uniforms are covered in mud.
Gazon also said that her neighbors cannot seek immediate medical attention from the main town.
“Yung mga taong nagkakaroon ng mga sakit, kailangan pa ilagay sa duyan para pagtulong- tulungan na makarating sa Palo (Those who are ill are transported using makeshift hammock carried by people to Palo),” Cabandongga Evidor, 63, housewife, described.
Evidor also said that some never reach the town proper alive most especially those with worst health condition and those who were involved in accidents.
THE PATH
From their longing for proper accessibility, they moved as a community to meet their needs. Through DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, they were able to construct a 450-meter pathway. As of now, it is already open for motorcycles and three to four-wheel vehicles.
The Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which uses Community-Driven Development (CDD) strategy to achieve service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.
In order to carry out the project, women managed this since men were out to work.
“Kahit wala man yung mga lalaki, naging aktibo yung mga babae na magtrabaho sa proyekto. Kung ano man ang nararapat na gawin, ginagawa naming mga kababaihan (With the absence of men, women were active to accomplish the project. If any work arises, we, women try our best to execute it)”, Evidor said.
Even the mayor of Bato was very impressed of what the group can accomplish to improve their community.
“Kahit may mga gawain sila sa kani-kanilang pamilya, hindi sila nagdalawang isip na tumulong sa programa ng DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS (Even though they have families to tend to, they don’t hesitate in helping carry out DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS)”, Municipal Mayor Frank Bernaldez said.
According to Merly Gozo, housewife, they pursued the project because they don’t want to see their children experience the same circumstances like them.
But, the community was not exempted in experiencing challenges as they implemented the project.
At first, they were not able to find contractors who wanted to apply for bidding due to the distant location of the village.
“Naramdaman ko ang pagod namin kasi hirap kami kung paano kami makahanap ng contractors. Marami kaming contractors nakuha pero nung nalaman ang location namin, lahat sila back out. Minsan kapag nakausap namin, kaya nagback-out sila kasi baka daw malugi sila (I also experienced weariness because of contractors backing-out. We were able to find so many contractors but most of them have backed out when they found out the location of the barangay. When we talked to them about the reason, they often said that they might suffer financial loss)”, Gazon recounted.
Despite the difficulties, they were able to find a contractor because the Procurement team continuously encouraged contractors to help them construct the pathway that will contribute to the improvement of accessibility going to the barangay.
“Sa tulong ng buong barangay, sa tulong ng mga staff ng Kalahi, lalong lalo na kay Lord at sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, lubos po ang pasasalamat namin (With the help of the barangay, Kalahi-CIDSS staff especially to God and the program, we are very thankful)”, Gazon expressed.
Volunteers are always considered as modern-day heroes because of their willingness to work for the betterment of others.
“Malaki ang tulong ng volunteers sa amin. Kahit wala silang natanggap na incentives. (The volunteers helped a lot in our community even though, they don’t receive incentives.) I appreciate their enthusiasm to help in the development of their barangays. For me, they are the unsung heroes of the barangays”, former Municipal Mayor Jeanette Bernaldez said.
Although these people experienced difficulties during their journey, it is fulfilling for them to see the smiles of their loved ones as they appreciate the developments they made as a community.
Because wherever you go, the person who walks with you is more important rather than the path itself. /ramsertan/
About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS
Camarines Sur has implemented Kalahi-CIDSS in 35 municipalities with a total implementation grant of Php 1,901,084,652.89 and local counterpart contribution of Php 72,384,679.02 from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.
DSWD had allocated Bato with Php 65,753,834.47 with a counterpart from the LGU of Php 1,792,480.94.
The construction of 450-meter pathway starting from the boundary of Barangay Palo to Mainit barangay proper has a total project cost of Php 4,617,195.00.
For more details about DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, follow this link:
http://ncddp.dswd.gov.ph/site/faqs