Due to their active participation in every activity of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) in their area, the Barangay Council of Villa Batabat in Buenavista, Quezon were exposed to the pressing needs of their community.

During the conduct of Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA) in the community, the Barangay Council recognized the incapacity of most households to provide for the school needs of their children.  To address such, they implemented a scholarship program wherein they will provide school uniform, shoes, and other supplies to selected poor students in the barangay. Each councilor was tasked to identify one beneficiary in their respective sitios.

The scholarship program had a budget of Php30,000.00 serving 20 students, 16 of which are elementary students while 4 are in high school.

“Kahit maliit lang ang IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) namin, sa tamang pagpaplano at pagbabudget ay posible namang makapaglunsad ng ganitong proyekto. Sa tulong teknikal din ng ilang Kalahi-CIDSS staff, naisulong rin namin ang proyektong ito,” Brgy. Captain Teodoro Pania shared.

 

A great help

Daisy Dela Torre’s daughter, Lovely, is one of the 20 scholars of the barangay who received a new school uniform, shoes, notebooks, pencils, and other school materials. Daisy is very thankful for the help of the barangay as their family has limited sources of income which are sometimes insufficient to sustain the school needs of her children.

According to Daisy, selling stick brooms worth Php3.00 per piece is not enough to provide for the needs of her five children. Her husband Jerry, who has no permanent work, earns Php3,000.00 per month if someone will hire him for copra farming.

“Kung minsan nga po ay ketsup at asin lang ang ulam namin para makatipid at makapasok pa rin sa school ang mga anak ko. Kaya naman malaking tulong sa amin ang mga bagong gamit na ibinigay kay Lovely. Bawas gastusin na rin po ito sa amin,” the grateful Daisy stated.

Such stories warm the hearts of the Barangay Council, knowing that they have done something beneficial to the residents of Brgy. Villa Batabat.

“Makita lang namin ang mga ngiti ng mga bata at marinig ang walang hanggang pasasalamat ng kanilang mga magulang ay sapat ng inspirasyon para patuloy na maglingkod sa aming mga kababayan,” Brgy. Captain Pania ended. (with reports from MManalo)