𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁In an agricultural barangay of Tubod, in the 5th-class municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo, a community embodies the spirit of volunteerism. Amidst the hills lies a concrete road built by the community volunteers of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

One of these dedicated volunteers is Nonita Castor, a current member of the Barangay Council. Castor is a 64-year-old farmer who began volunteering in 2007 as the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) chairperson for the upgrading of the farm-to-market road project.

“I volunteered to help our community. Back in 2007, you couldn’t imagine the state of our road. We pitied ourselves,” Castor recalled.

This infrastructure project paved the way for further development in the barangay, attracting funding from various government agencies. However, her journey in project implementation was not easy. As a widow, Castor faced numerous hardships while juggling her responsibilities.

“When there were tasks and seminars, I had no one to leave the chores with at home. What I did was leave the chores for later because they could wait, unlike the KALAHI meetings,” she explained.

Transportation was also a significant challenge. Castor shared how, in 2007, she had to walk four to five kilometers, leaving home at 5:30 a.m. to catch a bus in the highway at 7:15 a.m. to go to Bingawan town proper in order to submit or process documents at the KALAHI-CIDSS office.

Despite these obstacles, the support from the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) helped volunteers like her overcome challenges, especially financial concerns such as fare for trainings and seminars.

“One challenge was finances for training. The barangay captain and officials helped us with that,” she noted.

After leading another road project and the construction of a daycare center, Castor decided to run for public office. She was elected as a Barangay Kagawad in 2018, and her experience as a volunteer gave her the confidence to engage with the community.

“One key lesson from KALAHI was learning how to interact with others,” she said.

Now serving her second term, Castor is also the President of the Tubod Peoples’ KALAHI Association (TUPEKA), which maintains KALAHI-CIDSS projects. The association, with support from the BLGU, conducts road clearing and other maintenance tasks.

“Barangay officials contribute snacks for the volunteers who help clear the roads at least once a month,” she shared.

Castor, TUPEKA members, and the BLGU are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of KALAHI-CIDSS projects. Their efforts are supported by the Municipal Local Government Unit and the Bingawan KALAHI Association (BingKA), which is composed of all O&M groups in the municipality.

Thanks to their commitment, the barangay has allocated funds for repairs, improving access for residents.

“The barangay allocated PHP50,000.00 budget for the purchase of sand and cement for the road repair, in addition to the PHP10,000.00 budget they allocated specifically for the operation and maintenance of KALAHI subprojects,” Castor explained.

Before the road construction in 2007, residents had to walk for an hour to reach the highway. “The road was difficult to traverse; we had to carry our goods to town,” she recalled.

Today, Barangay Tubod is easily accessible, improving the lives of farmers, students, and vulnerable sectors. “Now all vehicles can pass through; they can reach the barangay directly in emergencies,” Castor said.

The development has not only improved infrastructure but also empowered community volunteers like Nonita Castor, who have gained the confidence to face challenges and serve their community as public servants./dswd6/mmc/cdf

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