Empowerment is one of the key the ingredients in the development process and it is one of the main goals of Kapit- Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), a DSWD program that seeks to help alleviate poverty through community-driven development (CDD).

Kalahi-CIDSS promotes empowerment through CDD where community actively participate in the design, implementation, and management of development activities that aim to reduce poverty and place control over resources in the hands of the community especially the poor.

The small town of Bombon, Camarines Sur with eight barangays started the implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS in 2012 with a total fund of PhP10,800,000.00 from Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to 12 community sub-projects.

Barangay Siembre in Bombon was grateful to receive a school building with three classrooms and a day care center.

Gil Arga, a foreman who lost his legs in 2001, was one of the people who erected those buildings in the said village.

“Pasalamat ako dahil napili ako maging foreman sa Kala-CIDSS,” he said.

Gil among the other three applicants for the foreman in 2013, was chosen by most of the laborers during the pre-construction conference wherein discussions focused on explaining the work items and its subsidiary works to be accomplished which included the manpower requirements for the construction of their Day Care Center.

Arga, an elementary graduate, says experience is a good teacher. He started as a carpenter in 1982. After six months, he gained the trust of his supervisor and was promoted by his supervisor as the foreman. His dedication to work, determination and diligence developed him into an adroit worker mastering skills for his craft and working with others.

“Nagibi na sana ako. Dae ko maipaliwanag ang namatian ko. Nagapasalamat ako na maski arog kaini ang kamugtakan ko, inako nindo ako,” he said.

Arga lost important things but not his life. He lost his wife in 2001 and during the same year, he lost his legs. He survived electrocution when fixing the roof of his relative.

“Siguro may misyon pa ako kaya di pa ako kinua ni Lord,” a teary Arga said. 

He was not able to work after those fateful incidents and was confined at home because of his disability for over three years. He got back to work when his relative requested him to manage the construction of their house but opportunity was too evasive since then. 

For over 30 years of experience in construction, Arga was able to build numerous buildings like school buildings, a hospital, residential and commercial spaces both in public and private firms.

When Kalahi-CIDSS came, he was able to build not only their day care center and the school building but the opportunity also strengthened his confidence by getting the trust of his neighbors in Brgy. Siembre when the community chose him as the foreman.

According to Brgy. Capt. Josefa Tan, she believed in Arga because he is a determined person and he should receive equal opportunity in the community.

“Pinili ng barangay si Arga dahil sa kakayahan niya sa construction sa matagal nang panahon. Hindi naging hadlang ang kanyang kapansanan,” Gregorio Abundo, a DSWD worker assigned to Brgy Siembre who guides the people in the implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS, added

Arga was challenged when there was a weekly rotation of laborers during the construction of their community- sub-projects. He was used to a permanent group of laborers when he was with the private construction firm before but appreciated the system.

“Magayon na nagapalit ning tarbador surusemana dahil ang bilog na taga-barangay natatwan ning pagkakataon na maghanapbuhay,” he said.

According to Abundo, Arga managed the workers properly even though there was a weekly change of manpower and the result of his management prowess greatly affected the quality of the buildings.  

He said that Arga taught the first-timers to perform what is expected from them and guided the whole group by being a good example.

“Pinailing ko sainda na bako hadlang ang pisikal na kakulangan ko. Tigpailing ko sainda ang deteminsyon ko sa trabaho,” Arga said.

Arga did not mind if he receives PhP430 a day which was lower than the salary he usually gets when he was with private firms.

“Dae man ako nagisip ning alangkaw na sweldo. At least nakatabang na ako sa barangay maski magtrabaho pa kami ning Domingo,” he added.

He was also elated to know that the community recognizes his skills and how the Barangay Council is proud of him. 

“Mas nabistohan ko ang mg ka-barangay ko dahil dae man ako nagaparaluwas ta ang trabaho ko sa ibang lugar dati,” Arga added.

According to Antonia Gavica, a resident of Siembre, Arga was inspired to get out of his house because of the work offered to him in Kalahi-CIDSS.

Kalahi-CIDSS gives opportunity to all sectors in the community most specially the physically challenged persons, elderly, women, and Indigenous People to participate in development activities.