Development projects benefit folks in Dumarao brgys
Living in far-flung barangays in the town of Dumarao, Capiz is not total misery after all as the government under its Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) poured some P39 million worth of infrastructure projects in the area.
The KALAHI-CIDSS project includes 10 road projects, five bridges, three health stations, three classroom buildings, two water system level II, a solar dryer, traveling rice mill with garage, day care center and an electrification project.
Of the total P39,013,176 worth of infrastructure and community support services, the municipal government made a counterpart of P9,304,176. While, KALAHI-CIDSS contributed P29.7 million. The project covers 27 of the 33 total barangays in Dumarao.
KALAHI-CIDSS projects in Dumarao started in 2004. The projects were implemented through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They get their funding from a loan made by the national government with World Bank. The project also requires a counterpart from the identified project areas.
Recently, the social welfare department sponsored a Lakbay-Aral trip in four barangay project beneficiaries where majority of the residents benefited from it. These projects brought convenience and a little comfort among the residents especially the children.
The first stop of the trip was at Barangay Aglalana. It is more or less three kilometers from the town proper. In Aglalana, a water system level II was constructed. The water system provides the water needs of the entire barangay. The water source came from a spring, it is earned in a water tank and goes directly to a community faucet.
According to Melinda Hitalia, Aglalana barangay treasurer, each resident pays P20 for every 10 cubic meters of water they used. They will also pay an extra P2 for every excess of cubic meters. It is much cheaper compared when they are using electricity.
Teacher Ruth Hilapad said the presence of the water faucet lightens the daily chore of the school children. The children used to fetch water to water the plants and for toilet use. She said they are privileged to avail of such project from the government.
In Alipaciawan Elementary School, the KALAHI-CIDSS constructed a two-classroom building. One classroom is allotted for Mathematics, Filipino and HEKASI subjects of Grade IV and V pupils while the other classroom is reserved for the HEKASI subject of Grade VI students. The project was implemented under Phase 3A of the KALAHI-CIDSS, with the barangay sharing a counterpart fund of P207,686.
The two-classroom building amounted to P1,107,176. The local counterpart amounted to P207,686 while KALAHI-CIDSS provided P899,490 for the class room building. Parents of some of the students made their contribution by working as carpenters but receiving a much lower wage in order to finish the building.
At present, KALAHI-CIDSS has six ongoing projects remaining in Dumarao which are expected to be completed before the year ends.
The municipal chief executive said his office sets aside aside P1.5 million to be used as local counterpart funds for the various projects of the agency. The allocation is a manifestation that the municipal government is ready to give its counterpart in whatever projects the agency will give them.