The anticipated Ber Months of most people are the most fearful days of the residents of Brgys. Sinag, Dapdap, and Tamis of Calauag, Quezon.

“Panahon na kasi ito ng Amihan at naglalakihang alon nanaman ang nakaabang sa amin. Delikado nanaman mag-byahe. Naku, lahat ng santo matatawag mo na sa sobrang takot,” shared Lilia Latagan, 46, from Brgy. Sinag.

Sinag, Dapdap, and Tamis are neighbor-barangays located in the coastal area of the municipality of Calauag. In order to reach other barangays and Calauag’s town proper, the residents from these communities need to travel by water since the areas have no paved roads yet.

“Nakakatakot na ngang magbyahe, nasa 300 hanggang 500 pa ang arkila sa bangka. Talaga namang pumuputok ang bulsa namin sa sobrang mahal ng pamasahe,” Lilia shared in frustration.

Lilia thought that they simply have to live with such situation for the rest of their lives. But she found light for the community when DSWD’s Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP) offered assistance to the areas.

The KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP is one of the core programs of DSWD that aims to provide better access to social services in barangays through community projects. It follows the community driven development approach wherein it involves the community in the local planning, decision-making, and implementation of need-responsive projects identified by them.

Seeing the program as a way to address their problem with access roads, Brgys. Sinag, Dapdap, and Tamis decided to merge their grants and resources to implement a joint pathway construction sub-project covering the three barangays.

“Naisip namin na gawing iisa ang aming proyekto para makagawa kami ng mas mahabang kalsada kung saan mas marami ang makikinabang. Akala namin, hindi posible ang gusto naming mangyari. Pero nang sabihin na maaari naman itong gawin basta’t malinaw lang na mailahad sa proposal, laking tuwa nang tatlong barangay. Lahat ay excited nang tumulong sa paggawa ng proyekto,” Lilia shared.

The joint pathway construction sub-project of the three barangays is allotted with a total combined grant of PhP1.1 Million. The first tranche of the grant is expected to be downloaded to the barangays before the year ends to start sub-project construction when 2015 comes in.

Given now the power to change the course of their lives, Brgys. Sinag, Dapdap, and Tamis are now ready to work together and make the sub-project a success. They are also looking forward that on the coming years, the “fear of Ber Months” will soon be replaced by enthusiasm on the season it bears, like most people do.