Sixty three-year old Napoleon Angulo (right) shares how the retaining wall prevents the river from overflowing and flooding the community during rainy season. He added that the house (center) near the river was saved from a possible mudslide during Typhoon Glenda in 2014.
Napoleon is one of the 85 households in Brgy. Villa Jesus Este, Alabat, Quezon benefitting from the 30 meters-long retaining wall sub-project. The retaining wall, amounting PhP840,000.00 project cost, is the barangay’s first sub-project implemented under the DSWD program Kalahi-CIDSS in 2012.
*************************************************************************************
Serving by faith – towards a flood-free community
Every morning, 63 year-old Napoleon Angulo leads a short bible study for his co-volunteers in Brgy. Villa Jesus Este, Alabat, Quezon. For him, sharing God’s word first thing in the morning will bless them with strength, enough for the whole day’s work of constructing their line canal sub-project.
“Mahalaga rin na mapasalamatan namin Siya araw-araw sa biyayang pinagkaloob Niya sa aming komunidad. Alam naming kaloob Niya ang proyekto at nasa amin na ang gawa para mabuo ito,” he shared.
As an active member of the church, Napoleon aims to inspire the community with the Lord’s teachings and messages. He also said that part of his vowed service to God is to help people, especially their community. Thus, he decided to be a community volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS in 2014.
The Kalahi-CIDSS, otherwise known as Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that empowers the residents to plan, decide, and implement their own projects that would best address their needs.
Napoleon together with other 32 community volunteers in their barangay decided to construct a line canal, about 180 meters long, along the barangay road to control the flood flow in the area. Every time hard rain pours, it takes at least three hours before the flood subsides. This damages the concrete road, causing cracks and bumps.
“Nalilimitahan na ang pagpi-pick up ng kopra dito kasi hirap na ang ibang sasakyan na dumaan sa aming kalsada. Kaya naman malaking tulong ang line canal para ‘di magtuloy-tuloy ang sira ng kalsada at lumakas pa rin ang pag-aangkat ng produkto dito,” he shared.
The community volunteers underwent trainings on project proposal development, community finance, and procurement to have basic knowledge on implementing their proposed sub-project. After the trainings, they created a financial plan budgeting the allotted grant of PhP342,453.00. They used it to procure construction materials, pay for labor costs and other project expenses.
Currently, they are on the second month of constructing the sub-project where Napoleon heads the team.
As Project Implementation Team head, Napoleon secures that they are on schedule to avoid additional costs and finish the construction within the given timeline. He also encourages women volunteers to help in the construction, if they can, to hasten the work.
Among the women volunteers is Conchita Amaro, 60, an Aeta residing in the barangay.
“Masaya po ako dahil bukod sa kumikita ako para sa aming mag-asawa, nakakatulong pa ko sa barangay,” said Conchita who solely takes care of her sick husband.
Laborers and helpers, like Conchita, are hired for five days where the former receives PhP350.00 a day and the latter with PhP250.00. They also work every Saturdays for free which serves as their bayanihan or the community’s counterpart for the sub-project.
Napoleon said that they target to finish the construction by the end of May. They are looking forward to have a flood-free community by then especially when the rainy season of June comes.
“Tulad nga ng lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila, base sa Marcos 9:23, ‘Mangyayari ang lahat sa sinumang may pananampalataya.’ At heto na nga. Nakikita na namin na malapit ng matapos ang proyekto. Salamat talaga sa Diyos at sa pagtutulungan ng bawat isa sa pagbuo ng proyektong ‘to,” Napoleon ended.