Following the recently determined and decided criteria set by the different Barangay Representation Teams (BRTs) of Alilem for the upcoming sub-project prioritization process, residents of Brgy. Batbato, Alilem, Ilocos Sur gathered for the conduct of Kalahi-CIDSS 3rd Barangay Assembly (BA) where results of the Criteria Setting Workshop was relayed to the barangay.
Discussions, agreements, and results on how to prioritize Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects were presented to the participants of the 3rd BA in Batbato, so partner beneficiaries of the program in the barangay would know how to assert their proposed sub-projects to be prioritized and funded by Kalahi-CIDSS.
With the criteria presented to the locals of Brgy. Batbato, residents agreed to push through with the access road from the main barangay road instead of access roads in the sitios. As empowered locals of Kalahi-CIDSS, they manifested their capabilities on decision-making where their voices were heard in response to the need that they themselves identified to lessen their hardships living life in poverty.
Batbato Brgy. Capt. Abelardo B. Antonio, Sr. expressed his high spirits and optimism on their chances to have their proposed sub-projects be prioritized. “Hinihikayat ko ang aking mga kapwa taga-Batbato na ibigay ang lahat ng aming makakaya para makuha ng aming barangay ang pondo para sa pagpapagawa ng kalsada. Isang estratehiya na aming ibig gawin ay ang pagbibigay ng libreng serbisyo bilang mga trabahador. Kung tutuusin, hindi na talaga kami dapat pa humingi ng bayad dahil kami rin naman ang makikinabang ‘pag natapos at na-turn-over na sa barangay namin ang kalsada. (I am encouraging my barangay constituents to give everything that we can, so that our barangay may acquire the funds for the road construction. One strategy that we want to do is work for free as laborers. Come to think of it, we should not really have to ask for compensation since we will be the ones to benefit once the project is done and turned over to the barangay.)”
Finally, Brgy. Batbato residents unanimously agreed and approved the final priority sub-project that they are going to present for the prioritization process which is the construction of barangay access road. Consequent to the barangay discussions and agreements, Brgy. Batbato volunteers are now preparing for the workshop to be conducted by Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Program Management Office on project development. (by: Jomara S. Chan, Kalahi-CIDSS Social Marketing Officer)
