“Casulongan” is a name of a barangay, but the townsfolk anticipated that “sulong” is its root word, meaning to move forward. It simply defines the behavior of the community after they experienced the outrage of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Barangay Casulongan is located in the interior part of Javier, Leyte which is 2.5 kilometer from the highway where farming and fishing are the only means of living for the residents. According to the volunteers of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of this barangay, they used be known as the poorest barangay, but now with the lessons gained and the assertiveness of individuals for the development of their community- they disclaim the title.
The said baranagay has 93 households, composed of 98 families with a total population of 385. The community has spoken for themselves about their learnings and realization on their struggle to lift themselves up from the poverty ground. The residents implemented a Health Station sub-project through the Kalahi-CIDSS project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in March 2012. The said implementation was well participated by the community as they were able to finish the sub-project within 49 calendar days.
“Ha una kay makuri gud pag-aghat ha mga tawo nga bumulig para mahitindog an amon hingyap nga magkamay-ada hin Health Station amon barangay. Pag nagpapatawag hin meeting, masiring pa nga, attendance la ito, di gad ito matatabo nga makapagpa-tindog kita hin health station kay waray man kita hito sarabutan,” (At first, it was really hard to convince the people to help realize our desire to have a health station in our barangay. Everytime we called for a meeting, they just commented that it is just for an attendance because it really would not happen that we will be able to build a health station as we don’t have any knowledge about it) said barangay councilor Ranil Belleza.
Yet, after the sub-project was built, the attitude of the people has changed, Belleza added. “Nakita man gud han kadam-an nga kaya ngayan namon pina-agi han pag giya han mga Kalahi CIDSS staff. Tanan ha sulod ha barangay maski an hagrani nga mga barangay in napakanhe para makatagamtam han mga serbisyo ha panlawas,” (The majority has witnessed that “we can”, through the guidance of the Kalahi CIDSS staff. All residents in the barangay, even from nearby barangays come to avail health services) Belleza added.
The Barangay Secretary and Treasurer, Lilibeth Ocampo and Rosemary Merilo respectively, share their stories how they learned to make and process documents, capacitating them with the concept of transparency on local governance. Both of them did not go to college, that is why they are thankful that at least through the implementation of sub-projects, they were able to enhance their ability in making and processing proposals, finance and procurement documents.
“An magpapabilin ha akon nga hinumduman kun waray na Kalahi-CIDSS, an akon mga nahibaru-an han sinisiring nga transparency tikang ha decision-making ngadto ha pag proseso han mga dokumento. Tungod hini nga amon proyekto, nahibaru ako nga kinahanglan nakapag-canvass gud ha tulo nga suppliers. Amu ngayan ito it nga pamaagi han gobyerno,” (What I would remember most if there won’t be Kalahi-CIDSS anymore are the things I learned that is called transparency from decision-making to the processing of documents. Because of our project, I learned that you need to canvass from three suppliers. This is how the government does), said Rosemary.
The townsfolk noticeably have developed the sense of ownership to the infrastructure they built. When the Kalahi-CIDSS assessed the sub-projects for rehabilitation after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, this community actively participated in barangay assemblies to speak out what needs to be done to in their barangay. The Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) was able to submit their proposal to DSWD to rehabilitate or repair their health station.
Again, this committee will be working again from 8-12 and 1-5 for 38 days to fix the health station’s roofing, windows, gutter, painting and signage. Among the six barangays in Javier, Leyte, assessed with sub-projects for repair and rehabilitation, the BSPMC of Casulongan was identified to be the lead barangay as voted by barangay officials because of their attitude in beating up with the timeline in implementing sub-project.
“Balik todo-todo nga trabaho na liwat kami nga baga han mga robot kay kinahanglan magsunod kami kon pira la dapat ka-adlaw an pagtrabaho para mas ganahan pa an gobyerno nga magbulig ha am. Salit, an Casulongan para ha amon in an “pagsulong” or pag-abante,” Rosemary stated with a smile.
An active resident of Casulongan
She is a volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS, the only Parent-Leader for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) and a worker for Cash for Work program in Brgy. Casulongan.
Her name is Remedios Pintogo, 37, a solo-parent of three, ages: 11, 15 and 16. Remedios tells her side of story as partner beneficiary of three different programs of the DSWD.
“Waray ako karikuhan, pero mayda ako kusog, talento ngan kakayahan como usa nga solo nga nanay, nga manalingkamot maka survive ha kawarayan. Kon waray pa siguro an mga program han DSWD, makuri gud.” (I don’t have the wealth, but I have the strength, talent and capacity a a solo-parent who struggles to survive from poverty. If not for the programs of DSWD, it would really be hard) said Remedios.
She emphasized that what she won’t forget is on how she developed a skill for time management. She added that as a parent-leader handling 36 mother grantees and a volunteer in Kalahi CIDSS takes some of your time for your family, yet she learned how to handle it through management.
Remedios is proud too, to be part of the Cash for Work program of the DSWD where she and her co-Pantawid Pamilya members work for the beautification of their barangay. Their activities include backyard gardening, proper waste segregation, planting flowering plants along the road and vegetable communal gardening.
“Makuri man pero malipayon kami nga maupay an natatabo ha amon barangay kay tungod nga kami in nagkaka-urusa pagsalbar han amon kahimtang,” (It might be difficult yet we are happy on what is happening in our barangay because we work as one to save us from our depressing situation) she said.