Be Full and Be Merry by the Bay has become the center of attraction and gathering for most of Cabucgayan’s community folks, in this side of Biliran province. Now two years after Yolanda, the town has become even more livelier than before. It is all because of the intervention of the DSWD Field Office VIII when it pursued the Cash-for-Building-Livelihood Assets (CBLA), providing temporary income to 52 poor households.

The agency extended said beneficiaries cash incentive of Php260.00 per day for a period of 15 days in exchange for labor. They worked on some 15 kiosks for the seaside canteen, materials of which were courtesy of the municipal government. Project Development Officer, Warren Briccio, of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) revealed that the two entities were able to tap the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for funding of a start – up capital and other operational needs.Truly, a display of convergence in action ! Some 22 folks were identified by the partners and were formed into the so-called Magbangon Rural Improvement Club.

February 1, 2016 when it opened itself to the public and eventually turned the once sleepy Cabucgayan into a bubbling community. Maria Suzon, Municipal Agriculturist/Livelihood Focal says it is especially alive on Friday and Saturday nights as a band plays in this spot. “Now, visitors have a place to go to eat and feel rested while the locals have a perfect rendezvous for relaxation,” Suzon said. On the other hand, Briccio narrates that with the funding support of the UNDP amounting to Php400,000.00, livelihood assistance was further extended to more barangays. DSWD provided some Php3.5 M to the municipality for skills trainings, capital assistance, and cash incentive for labor, to helpless Yolanda victims.#