Aside from being a farmer, there is one thing that Lola Margarita is proud of, it is being a community volunteer under the DSWD’s community-driven program, despite her old age.
She has been a farmer ever since her husband was still alive, and until now it has been her way of helping her family.
As a farmer, she was also aware of the difficulty of delivering rice and other farm products and goods to the market due to their poor village access road. This led to higher costs of products and also, accidents.
But that was a long time ago. When Kalahi-CIDSS came in their upland barangay, the program helped them concrete their road in the year 2017.
For Lola Margarita, Kalahi-CIDSS has not only delivered basic social services to their community but also empowerment, discovering the ability of ordinary folks to speak and mobilize in pursuit of development.
“We are happy with the project given to us by DSWD most especially that projects were realized through the voice of the people.”
Also, I am very grateful to Kalahi-CIDSS because it helped me to become confident with my own abilities. I used to be shy to talk to other people, but it was all changed when I became a volunteer.”
The experience she gained as a volunteer paved the way for her to lead the senior citizen organization in their barangay.
“If it were not for Kalahi, I would not be able to discover my capacity to lead. It has been less than a year since I became president of the association but I like what I am doing. I go to the municipality to discuss with the officials what the elderly people need.”
Lola Margarita continues to be of service to her fellow residents in Giporlos, Eastern Samar. She is so compassionate that she does not mind walking for about one-hour by foot to get a ride so that she could attend various activities for Kalahi-CIDSS and that of the senior citizen association in the town proper.
“I can feel that needs of my fellows, so I continue to serve, most especially now during the pandemic.”
Lola Margarita shared how the pandemic caused economic fallout; it massively hit the habal-habal drivers, farmers, and skilled workers, who comprised most of the working groups in their barangay.
She said, “It is a good thing that DSWD is there to assist LGUs as it ensures that no one is left behind in this effort at mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in the communities.”
The cash-for-work scheme for the construction of a temporary isolation center under the Kalahi-CIDSS program helps her community provide for their basic needs.
The income the laborers got from the cash-for-work has been beneficial for their daily sustenance of food, medicines, and children’s education.
She says that seeing the development of their community is likened to “reaping the fruits of labor.”
With a big smile on her face, she expressed high recognition for the Kalahi-CIDSS program that brought great blessing to her community.
“ I pray that the program will continue in more years to come.”, she concluded.
#DSWDMayMalasakit
#MagKalahiTayoPilipinas
#NationalElderlyFamilyWeek
(credits: DSWD A/MCT Giporlos, Eastern Samar)
