“Malungkot ang buhay ko,” shared Arceña Pedere, 48 years old, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) grantee.

Arceña then disclosed that she was one of the program beneficiaries who engaged in gambling activities in their barangay.

In truth, sometimes we do not know what we are doing. At times we think we are doing enough and what is right. Sometimes, even our norms mislead us and our hardships blind us.

Nevertheless, miracles happen that even an empty plot could reap hope.

Hilongos, Leyte has 51 barangays, one of which is Barangay Tagnate, an upland barangay. The implementation of the program stated last 2011, the municipality is a set 4D municipality of the Pantawid Pamilya. The barangay started with more than sixty beneficiaries who have been mostly compliant with the conditions of the program.

Came four years in the implementation of the program, it had been noted that the existing and pressing problem of some of the members continued. What caught the attention of the implementers is that the gambling members of these barangay shamelessly display their gambling activities along the road.

The barangay officials had submitted their complaint to the office and the concerned individuals were reminded of the program policies and encouraged to change their lazy ways.

Later on, the same names were reported to the office for gambling and not only that, they had been encouraging other members of the barangay to join their gambling sessions.

Because of this feedback, the Municipal Action Team (MAT) members during their meeting, decided to initiate a case conference to resolve the problem. During the first counselling with these beneficiaries, it had been noted that most members of the community had too much spare time being housewives. So a case conference was scheduled and attended by the Municipal Inter-agency Committee (MIAC) members including members of the local government unit headed by Mayor Albert Villahermosa and some barangay officials, focal persons from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Department of Education (DEPED), DSWD staff from the 4Ps and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), together with the beneficiaries of Barangay Tagnate.

The attention of the specific beneficiaries who engaged in gambling was called for and a written warning was given to them. After the individual counselling, the case conference was held. During the consultation-dialogue, it had been decided that the group would establish a communal garden. The local government gave them a location in the barangay where they could start their group activity.

The Department of Agriculture gave the commitment to help educate the members on the proper ways of farming and the Department of Education focal presented to help in monitoring the progress of the said garden.

So immediately after the meeting, the group made schedules to plow the plots and get the site ready. After the preparations, the Department of Agriculture constantly visited the group and had taught them the proper gardening techniques especially bio-intensive gardening. They had been learning and some sessions were held during Family Development Sessions (FDS). The group was slowly being organized and active in the activities.

4Ps Municipal Link Rani Acenas said that they aim to manage and inspire beneficiaries, instil discipline and let them see the value of time and money, and enhance convergence strategies among all stakeholders and partners beneficiaries.

Municipal Links conduct continuous spot check on the progress of the communal garden.

In coordination with the Local Government Unit, Department of Agriculture, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program, Municipal Social Welfare, Department of Agriculture and the Barangay Officials the communal gardening of barangay Tagnate is finally taking shape.

Currently, the beneficiaries had already been briefed and taught by the DA on the proper gardening procedures and they have started cleaning and making plots. Also, a garden nursery is in the making. The SLP had also organized two groups who submitted their proposal in order to avail of the benefits.

The committee had decided that DEPED and DA would help focus and monitor the progress of the project. Also, a close monitoring would be done by the involved programs guided by the MSWDO and the 4Ps Municipal staff.

Deped Tagnante Elementary School Head Teacher I Marvin Broñola shared that their school supports parents and gardening and they are also to provide area or lot. He added that 4Ps help minimize dropout rates. “With the strong collaboration of DSWD, DA, DEPED, LGU, through 4PS, lihok, wa nila buhata sa una, karon gibuhat nanira.”

Municipal Agriculturist Elma Oja then shared that gardening helps in food sufficiency and there are less idle men and women since they work instead and devote their time to gardening.

Parent Leaders of Barangay Tagnate regularly showed the staff the progress on some parts of their communal garden.

The beneficiaries including Mary Grace Villacote, Juanita Faller, and Magdalina Villaro, expressed their commitment and they were being counselled that the success of this project would greatly depend on their loyal efforts on its cause to eliminate gambling and generate income.

The barangay, known for an unfavourable reputation, is now a good example to other communities especially when all the members had been encouraged to have gardens for the rice subsidy. Before, even the memorandum on backyard gardening was given, this barangay had been doing well with this activity.

At present, they have three kinds of plants in the nursery and had grown five kinds of crops in their plots, and earn their living.

The members vowed to continue such humble beginnings as they have seen the positive impact of their image in the community due to this activity. Consequently, the incidence of gambling in the barangay was eradicated.

Arceña, a housewife, with three children, 16 -year-old Ronelo Grade 6, 15- year- old Juliet Grade 8, nine-year-old Danilo Jr. Grade 3, later became so active in the said gardening activity and has forgotten about gambling.

Together with husband Danilo, 45 years old, a farmer and labourer, they learned to strive hard for their family.

“Ang sugal pala ay hindi tama. Ang kita dapat para sa mga kabataan at sa mga kailangan ng pamilya,” said Arceña. She explained that indeed FDS, not just the cash grants, changed her heart and helped her realize to save up for her children and their family’s future. #DSWDMayMalasakit #DSWDParaSaNakararami

Photo credits to RANI MARIE M. ACENAS, Municipal Link- Hilongos, Leyte