Townsfolk from Barangay Alibangsay in Bagulin town in La Union had always wished for a cemented road to help them in their daily lives.

A mountainous and hilly community, villagers were forced to navigate an uneven path in their barangay, which becomes muddy during rainy days.

This community challenge ended when the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was introduced to the locality.

Through the KALAHI-CIDSS, a Php4.5 million project was implemented to improve the 315 linear meter access road at Sitio Purao in Barangay Alibangsay.

Anita Falancy, President of the Naguey Rural Improvement Organization, was one of those who still could not believe they finally had a cemented road in their area.

“Parang hindi kami makapaniwala na mangyayari ito sa amin, parang paano ba yon, ilang taon na na wala tayong kalsada. Kagaya ko siyempre, sa tanda kong ito, 64 na ako pero hindi ako makapaniwala. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa KALAHI at sila ang tumulong sa amin dito,” Anita told the DSWD’s award winning online documentary #KPAP or Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago.

This was affirmed by Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer Pilita Cario who recalled that the dream for the road had been passed on by their ancestors.

“Matagal na rin na inantay namin na dumating sa amin to (kalsada), matanda na yung lolo ko, namatay na wala pa, kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa inyo (DSWD),” Pilita pointed out.

Under the Kalahi-CIDSS, Barangay Alibangsay was able to successfully propose for the road improvement project which began in August 2024 and completed in November 2024.

DSWD Area Coordinator Manjeet Pintor shared that the residents of Barangay Alibangsay got the funding as they creatively presented their proposal by depicting their situation without the cemented road.

Manjeet explained: “Sa project po na nirequest o ginawan ng proposal ng community volunteers sa tulong ng ating area coordinating team, humigit kumulang na 310 linear meters po. Yung actual po na nagawa sa project ay 315 linear meters dahil ang sabi ng nangontrata ay dinagdagan niya ng another 5 meters baka kasi magkulang sa initial na estimate niya na sukat.”

The project seemed simple enough, but achieving it was a community effort. Anita said meetings were held in the community before they came up with the road improvement proposal which the residents badly needed.

Both Anita and Pilita shared that prior to the project, they had to traverse kilometers of uphill and downhill unpaved pathway in order to go to the town center. It was always a big challenge to trudge the difficult path, but the residents had no other choice.

Pilita said: “Mahirap talaga kasi dumaan dito papunta sa bayan. Doon sa may ilog pababa, karga-karga namin iyong mga produkto namin, babae man o lalaki ang nagbubuhat. Ang alam ko mga ten kilometers iyon.”

The improved road not only made transportation easier for the residents, but it also helped in their livelihood. Transporting vegetables is now easier as vehicles can pass through the road and some agents even go to their community to buy their products.

Gone were the days when residents had to carry sacks of vegetables on their backs and go up and down the hilly terrain just to sell them. Moreover, residents were encouraged to utilize the full expanse of their farm lots to plant more crops.

“Hindi ko masabi-sabi kung paano kami magpapasalamat sa inyong lahat, yung mga nanggaling sa DSWD, kasi yung mga lupa namin na nasasaka hindi namin natataniman nuon pero nung dumating iyong project na ito, ngayon po nagtanim na po kami ng maraming klaseng gulay. Naibenta na namin, tatlong beses na kaming nag-harvest,” Anita said.

Pilita is now cultivating their land to the full, which they previously neglected. Aside from rice farming, the Cario family also plants various vegetables, expanding their livelihood.

Alibangsay Barangay Captain Danny Pulmano expressed his gratitude to the DSWD for its KALAHI-CIDSS program, helping their community with easy access to transportation through the road. The barangay official also thanked the local government unit (LGU) for its collaboration with the DSWD, as well as all the volunteers who helped identify, propose, and complete the road project.

Unique to the KALAHI-CIDSS, the program uses the community-driven development (CDD) strategy which allows communities to gain control over decisions and resources. Through the program, villagers actively participate in identifying and prioritizing their community’s concerns and allowing them to design, implement, and manage solutions to their priority problems.

“Malaki ang naitulong ng KALAHI-CIDSS kasi alam naman natin ang LGU ay limited ang mga budget. Nakatulong siya lalo sa ating mga beneficiaries kasi aside po doon sa budget, natuto po silang magplano and magprioritize po kung ano ang kailangan nila. Maraming maraming salamat po sa DSWD, ang laki talaga ng suporta sa amin dito sa LGU and ang dami po na buhay ang natulungan, lalo na po yung sa kalsada (proyekto),” Bagulin Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Ma. Chona Benny Ochoco said.

As proven in Barangay Alibangsay, the Kalahi-CIDSS program not only provides funding for developmental projects but it also empowers community members to participate in the decision-making process regarding the implementation of programs in their localities.

Fifty volunteers from Sitios Naguey and Puraw worked together to make this road connecting both sitios a reality. The same volunteers are also working together for the maintenance of their newly constructed road.

Anita and Pilita are just two of the thankful residents of Barangay Alibangsay whose lives were changed by the road improvement project.

What they never expected to see happen in their lifetime became a reality through the KALAHI-CIDSS program, and they also wish for the other sitios to have the same project, so that they too, will not be left behind in development. (GDVF)