By Fe P. Cofreros, Financial Analyst III
Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) not only builds infrastructures to develop communities; it also empowers individuals to help them realize their fullest potential.
At age 20, Jay was a young, carefree, fresh graduate looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. He thought a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Northern Iloilo Polytechnic Stage College – Ajuy Campus would be enough of a ticket to better life.
It was not to be. For quite a while after finishing school Jay Binobo Banas of Barangay Taguhangin, Ajuy, Iloilo was jobless. Jay did not expect that finding a job will be difficult.
The 4th child of Gilbert and Teresita Banas, Jay was jobless for a time. Instead of whiling away his days doing nothing, however, Jay saw an opportunity to be a productive member of his community when he learned of various Kalahi-CIDSS programs in his hometown.
Kalahi-CIDSS came to Ajuy in 2013, with a total Municipal Grant Allocation of P11.9-million budget in every cycle of project implementation.
Kalahi-CIDSS projects entail participation of the community to empower the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries themselves identify their most immediate needs, and they agree on how to resolve the community problems through barangay assemblies and dialogues. The process reenforcesKalahi-CIDSS’ thrust of combating poverty through people’s initiatives.
Jay’s barangay received grants from Kalahi-CIDSS for the following sub-projects: Day Care Center, Water System Level II, 1 Unit 1 Classrooom Building, Health Center and 1 Unit 2CL High School Building.
Where others saw infrastructures, Jay saw opportunities to improve himself through the Kalahi-CIDSS Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) process.
Jay was chosen by his village to lead the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee. He was hesitant at first. But seeing the economic status and the impoverished situation of his neighbors, he agreed. His fervent desire to help the community overpowered his personal misgivings to accept a daunting task.
Being BSPMC chairperson is not an easy job, said Jay. He was pre-occupied completing sub-project requirements, including paper works, meeting with the local government unit officials, Kalahi-CIDSS facilitators, and even convincing his neighbors to attend barangay assemblies, among others.
Jay’s first challenge was to ensure Taguhangin met all the criteria to receive the grant. The initial step was to present the village’s proper proposal in MIBF-PRA. Jay, together with other community volunteers, spent sleepless nights to practice the role-playing that will portray the barangay’s priority project, a Day Care Center. Jay’s hardwork paid off as Taguhangin’s sub-project was prioritized, and eventually completed.
In the 3rd phase of Kalahi-CIDSS, Jay continued to volunteer, this time as a bookkeeper. Jay is not a lover of numbers. But his dedication and desire to help the community pushed him to accept another challenge.
“Kaya ko ba ito? (Can I do this?),” he asked himself. But knowing the barangay is yearning for developments, he accepted the equally daunting obligation.
The Bookkeeper plays an important role in the financial management of the project. Jay worked with the treasurer in reconciling bank transactions, recording of transactions in cash book, and making monthly sub-project utilization report.
Kalahi-CIDSS also trains volunteers, and Jay was trained in bookkeeping by the municipal financial analyst.
The trainings and demands of his work consumed most of his time, he admitted. But these sacrifices did not stop him because he knew that his work is for the good of his barangay.
His dedication was recognized by the community members. He was a bookkeeper for five years.
In 2009, Jay was hired by the Local Government Unit of Ajuy as a community facilitator for Kalahi-CIDSS. His positive outlook in life equipped with various training and coaching that he gained from being a volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS confidently lead him to the position.
Mentoring his own volunteers like the bookkeeper and treasurer where he was assigned is beyond the community facilitators’ function. At the municipal level while doing his work as a community facilitator he always found spare time to help Catherine Alvarez, the municipal financial analyst of Ajuy in her financial work. His expertise and diligence made himself a versatile worker. After six months he was hired as the assistant Municipal Financial Analyst for Kalahi-CIDSS Municipal Coordinating Team. He became a resource person as well as training facilitator in various municipal activities.
At present Jay is a regular employee of the Local Government Unit of Ajuy. For him, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” (Kalahi-CIDSS/DSWD)