Sitio Aguada of Barangay Ternaplin, San Pascual, Masbate is the crossway of the school children and other people from all walks of life who come on foot to Poblacion and vice versa. These people are from the neighboring sitios and from another barangay such as: Busing, Nazareno and Cueva. Sitio Aguada is a coastal village but one who come from the neighboring areas would ¬¬trek hilly and rocky road and down to the shoreline. For an elementary pupil one would find it hard and risky to cross the place especially during high tide.

Dencio recalls that the most difficult experience when he was in grade school is not really his studies but traversing the high level of sea water. Just to be in school, Dencio shared that he has to immerse at the sea water or prefers to get absent. This is also true to other school children so that absenteeism is also rampant. Likewise ferrying the farm products in order to earn is not worth the risk.

Aling Conching, a resident of Aguada also recalled that the place had been quiet and dark and the residents depended only on kerosene lamps for illumination. Peace and security was also a problem to all the residents for several decades. It was in 1996 when the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) was introduced in the municipality, covering all the barangays. Knowing that the program will be an opportunity for development projects as customary CIDSS was welcome in the municipality. Through the 16 steps prior to the sub- project implementation. Barangay Ternaplin was prioritized and during the two cycles, two sub- projects was awarded to Sitio Aguada. The LGU through the late Mayor Amado Lazaro readily supplemented the funding counterpart.

The first sub-project completed was the construction of 200 meters path walk connecting Sitio Aguada to the main barangay. This responded to the problem of community residents who regularly passes through the place during high tide. “Hindi na nahihirapan ang mga tao sa pagtawid kung mataas ang tubig dagat.” (It is now easy for the residents to cross especially during high tide) Maribel shrugged.

Within two years’ implementation and the conduct of community empowering activities there was a notable change on the participation and involvement of the people at all levels of community development. “Masarap at magaan ang aming pakiramdam sa pagkakaroon ng sementadong daan. Mahirap gawin dahil tinibag namin ang malalaking bato para maitaas ang daan na hindi maabot ng tubig dagat”, Fred a volunteer shared. The next sub-projects implemented was the construction of a Day Care Center. The Center which now stand for over 15 years have already served at least 600 pre- schoolers. The Center also accorded mothers free time and ample freedom to engage in income generating project while their children are at the center. Fred, an active CIDSS volunteer reckoned, “the barangay has learned to maximize local resources, follow policies on proper utilization and disbursement of fund and regular monitoring of the project.

In 2011, San Pascual, Masbate was again a recipient of one of the modality of the Kalahi CIDSS which is the PAMANA. “PAMANA” (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) is the national governments peace and development framework to respond and strengthen peace building, reconstruction and development in conflict affected areas. Luckily Barangay Ternaplin was again prioritized, and again Sitio Aguada is lucky to be the recipient of a concreted foot bridge and a streetlight energized by solar.

Aling Conching happily said that all the problems/needs identified during the Participatory Situational Analysis was responded. “The street is now illuminated and have a concreted foot bridge.” What has been started by the CIDSS and the PANAMA with the M/BLGU will surely be sustained. All these synchronized efforts of the M/BLGU, the barangay leaders endow local communities with a wide of genuine authority to participate in their own development. The most lasting legacy the KC-KKP (PAMANA) has imparted to the people of Barangay Ternaplin is the restoration of peoples feeling of self-worth and faith in their capabilities. To excel are now a far cry from the individuals they have come to be. They have realized the true worth of PANAMA and have come up to appreciate its unique approach of converging services and direct involvement in the community. ### eejerusalem