“Bigla nalang akong sinabihan ng mga taga-ibang barangay na disqualified kami. E kumpleto naman lahat ng dokumento namin. Pakiramdam ko talaga napulitika kami.”

This was the statement of 60 year old Ramos Hizon while recalling their disqualification in 2003 during the first cycle of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) in San Francisco, Quezon.

As the treasurer and the one who prepared all the needed documents for their proposed farm to market road project, Ramos was certain that they had a big chance to be chosen as they have complied with all the requirements set by the program. However, they were disqualified because another project donor had already started and committed for a road project in the same area. This is prohibited in Kalahi-CIDSS as the program wasn’t designed to augment financial support to an existing project.

The disqualification disheartened Ramos and the rest of Brgy. Cawayan II community. They took it as a foul play, thinking that their disqualification was pushed by some influential people since they are not allies with the government officials by that time. Having those suspicions in mind, the barangay had no interest to participate in Kalahi-CIDSS when the second cycle of the program was introduced in the area.

“Sobrang nadala kami noong first cycle. Baka masayang nanaman ang effort namin sa second cycle na ‘to. Pero pilit pinaintindi sa amin ng CF (Community Facilitator) ang nangyaring disqualification at nangakong mas gagabayan na niya kami ngayon sa pagpaplano. Marami naman ang nakaintindi at nahikayat na magpursigi ulit para sa darating na second cycle,” Ramos shared, who was then also convinced to give it a second try.

Most of the community members still want to pursue for a farm to market road project. The previous project donor didn’t cover the critical slopes of the pathway, thus it was still hard to pass through the area.

“Kapag tag-ulan kasi sa amin at naglakad ka ng naka-paa, pagdating mo sa bayan ay naka-bota ka na dahil sa putik,” Ramos described.

Since the road construction in the area had no more sources of committed funding, the farm to market road project was allowed by the Kalahi-CIDSS. Knowing this, a number of community members were enlightened and started to become volunteers. After series of revisions, reviews, and consultations, their proposed project was prioritized to receive assistance from the program.

Ramos added that even after they were selected during project prioritization, a few were still in doubt expressing that they will only give help and support once they see the actual construction of the road. Fair enough, when they finally saw that it was indeed happening, many volunteered while others offered free lunch and snacks to the workers.

After they completed the one kilometer farm to market road project with total project cost of Php1.5 million, Brgy. Cawayan II participated again for the third cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS. This time, they proposed for another farm to market road project connected to the road previously constructed during the second cycle.

Realizing the pressing need for a paved and safer road in Brgy. Cawayan II, the additional one kilometer farm to market road project was selected again by other barangays with total funding of Php1.4 million.

“Ang barangay kasi namin ang daanan ng mga kalapit na barangay papuntang bayan. Kaya importante rin sa kanila na magkaroon ng mas mahaba at maayos na kalsada sa lugar namin,” Ramos added.

Ramos also pointed out that being the appointed treasurer greatly exposed him to the fund utilization process of Kalahi-CIDSS. He really felt that they are in charge with the fund allocation thus, assuring that each single peso was entirely invested in the project. The transparency of the program made him realize that it was indeed worthy to give it a second chance.

“Nang makatapos kami ng dalawang kalsada, nabago na ang pananaw ng mga taga-Brgy. Cawayan II. Napatunayan namin na hindi pala ito napupulitika. Totoo talaga ang Kalahi,” Ramos ended.