Being in a geographically remote area adds up to the challenge of local officials and residents of Barangay Gigoso in Giporlos, Eastern Samar in accessing basic health facilities most especially in this time of the pandemic.

The Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) used to reach the municipal isolation facility in town for 11 km. to monitor the Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) from their barangay, who need to undergo a 14-day quarantine. The daily fare the barangay frontliners spend in commuting could be saved for their daily expenses.

With the funding support from Kalahi-CIDSS, a poverty reduction program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the community identified and implemented a Php 303, 221.00 worth of temporary quarantine facility with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The community prioritized quarantine facility as their project so that their barangay frontliners will not anymore spend money to reach the Poblacion and will have easy monitoring for the LSIs; and also, to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic in their barangay.

The quarantine facility, which is an enhancement of a barangay old school building, was completed by the community for only over a month. It has two buildings with a total of 12 rooms. The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided were surgical and washable masks, face shield, headcover, and complete gown for used by the barangay frontliners and LSIs.

The DSWD Field Office 8 officially turned over the project to the barangay officials and community residents of Gigoso, on October 23 this year.

Community volunteer leader Jenny Barsana, wrote in a statement, “Through DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, I learned how to implement a project and be of help to my community through volunteering. I hope that the program will continue because of its transparency, and how the fund is being monitored to the last centavo.”

She also expressed that being a volunteer is a pride she can tell her children.

Jenny Barsana was supposed to deliver her testimony during the turn-over ceremony but was not able to do so as she gave birth to her child days prior to the activity.

Municipal Mayor Gilbert Go, in his message delivered by his secretary, thanked the community volunteers and barangay local government unit for their sacrifice to build the facility, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in their locality.

He also expressed his gratitude for the assistance given by DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS to LGUs especially in helping them build COVID related response project in remote areas like Gigoso.

Meanwhile, DSWD Deputy Regional Program Manager Gerardo Peneda, who attended the turn-over ceremony, emphasized that the facility was made possible through the collective action of government agencies, local and barangay local government units, and the community.
#DSWDMayMalasakit
#MagKalahiTayoPilipinas
#ThisIs8!

(credits DSWD A/MCT Giporlos, Eastern Samar)