Her name is Narra.

Although named after the country’s national symbol for strength and resilience, many people and occurrences from the past have tested the essence of the name.

But, her spirit and courage proved that she is like the tree made of sturdy timber, who can endure every climate, who can withstand any storm.

Joining Kalahi-CIDSS

Narra joined Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2013 as a volunteer, but the response was not encouraging.

 “Sanay hira nga it nangunguna dapat may kapas, may aram. Asya an iba nahikasunlog han amon pag-api [People used to see leaders who have the ability, who have the competence. That is why they ridiculed us when we join]”, said Narra Pacoma, 31.

According to Narra, seeking for a position or role in the community is like looking for a job. She realized that everything is impossible if you lack the right skill and education.

When asked why she did not hesitate joining the program amidst the mockery she heard, Narra proudly answered, “Han namimiling hira hin volunteer, nag-volunteer ak dayon. Waray man mag-vovolunteer nga iba kay it kadam-an nga babaye dinhi nahadlok it ira asawa, an iba liwat nadiri gud hin pagkarawat hin responsibilidad [When they were looking for a volunteer, I quickly presented myself because only a few women will volunteer. It is either they are afraid of their husbands or they are afraid of the responsibility]”.

Narra in CDD

Volunteering for the program has opened new roles for Narra especially when she was elected as a member of the Procurement Committee and Monitoring and Inspection Team. Aside from being a homemaker who prepares everything for her husband and four children, Narra now prepares canvass papers and inspection reports for their community sub-projects. She was usually assigned to visit suppliers and check the quality and quantity of the construction materials when delivered.

Unlike other husbands in Poblacion Uno, Jose, a fisherman, understand Narra’s will to help as a volunteer.

“Maupay ini para ha iya kay may ada niya bag-o nga nahabaruan ha Kalahi-CIDSS ngan nakatrabaho pa hiya [It is a good thing that she learns new things in Kalahi-CIDSS. Now she can also work]”, Jose shared.

Using the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach where people get to decide and implement their chosen project in order to resolve the problems in their area, Narra and the community members focused on projects related to disaster mitigation. This became even more necessary when Super Typhoon Ruby hit Samar which ravaged almost all houses on the coastline of San Sebastian.

“Naka-evacuate gad kami. Pero waray na kami gin-abtan nga balay kahuman han bagyo. Nahalabog ni Ruby an am payag [We evacuated. But our house was destroyed after the typhoon. Ruby (Typhoon) threw our little house]”.

The said devastation triggered the people to respond to disasters using CDD. In Poblacion Uno, the community folks managed to complete the Construction of Drainage Canal amounting to PHP 515, 346.00 and a 60-linear meter Breakwater worth PHP1.5 million under the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s grant. These sub-projects also became possible due to the orientation and disaster awareness given to all community members especially women.

Through Kalahi-CIDSS’s sub-projects, women like Narra were given equal job opportunity to work on the construction. For one whole week, Narra worked as a laborer where she received PHP 260.00 a day same with her male counterparts.

However, due to the spirit of bayanihan, community members decided to donate PHP 30.00 which was deducted from their daily pay. The selfless deed resulted to more savings from the labor cost. The funds on the other hand, were used to purchase additional materials used for the breakwater’s foundation.

With their involvement in the construction and implementation of these sub-projects, Narra and other volunteers saw the opportunity for women in technical and physical labor.

“Kaya man magtrabaho it babaye ha construction saypa yana nga nakarawat it Kalahi-CIDSS hin mga babaye ha pag-ayad. Basta tutduan la, kaya. [Women can actually work in the construction especially now that Kalahi-CIDSS is accepting women for paid labor. Just teach us, we can]”, Narra confidently asserted.

This was actually the main reason why the community members especially women of the said town decided to propose the conduct of Skills Training on Non-Traditional Work prioritizing women in the areas of welding, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, painting and electricity.

Taking a more serious task

But an ill-fated accident happened on August 2014. While she was doing her usual rounds in their kitchen, she fell from her elevated house when her feet plunged on the floor made of shabby bamboo strips. This caused her right arm to be dislocated.

The accident did not stop her.

Even with disability, Narra’s determination and commitment allowed her to take more responsibilities in the community. A year later, she was one of the four residents from her barangay who was chosen to participate the Skills Training on Non-Traditional Work through the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Gender Incentive Grant (GIG) funding gender-specific priorities and projects.

The primary goal of the capacity-building training conducted on May 2015, was to improve the quality of life in rural communities through empowering women, even persons with disability in hard labor.

With the GIG fund worth PHP 1, 001,710.00, a total of 338 community members with 252 women and 86 men were trained on six areas of non-traditional skills that are applicable to Kalahi-CIDSS’ sub-project implementation. With this, both women and men trainees will be employed by Kalahi-CIDSS for sub-project construction that requires their new skill.

In spite of the broken right arm, Narra chose the Training on Shielded Metal Arc Welding Machine Operations.

Although she was armed with spirit and enthusiasm, still, there were challenges. There were people in the barangay who told her that she would not be able perform her tasks as a student-welder. Some were even mocking her because of her arm’s condition. But that did not stop her.

“Damo an nagyakan nga diri ak pwede umapi. Pero nagpadayon la ako pag-attend kay kaya ko man. Waray ak kahadlok. Maaram ak nga akos ko. Kanugon an oportunidad. [They said I should not join. But, I continue to attend because I know I can. I was not afraid. I believe I can. I do not want to waste the opportunity]”, Narra confidently said.

Pay it Forward

Now equipped with proper skills and knowledge on non-traditional work, the trainees from San Sebastian like Narra could be easily hired by other companies or government agencies through the Municipal Public Employment Service Office.

“Women can be easily hired in this new field specifically in welding since they have better coordination and longer patience. In fact, San Sebastian’s women participation rate increased to 81.75% after the training”. Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinator Roy Beringuel said.

After the training, both men and women participants are also expected to become the pool of trainers in their respective communities where they will also teach what they have learned to their fellow ka-barangay for free.

 “Our trained beneficiaries were already endorsed to the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of DSWD for further trainings and comprehensive workshop. with this new engagement, mothers like Narra can now acquire their Level II National Certification from TESDA (Technical Education Skills Development Authority) which can bring more job opportunities here and abroad”, Beringuel further explained.

To other graduate participants in San Sebastian, this task may sound like a mandatory duty. But to Narra, it is a responsibility that she is more willing to do.

“Willing man ak magtutdo ha iba an akon nahabaruan. Basta akos ko, bubuhaton ko gud [I am more willing to teach what I learned. If I can do it, I will surely do it]. ”

When asked about the greatest lesson she learned on skills training, Narra emotionally replied.

“Kun may-ada ko nahabaruan ha amon skills training, tinuod gud nga diri la pambalay it mga babaye [Women is not for our homes only. This is the most important thing I learned from the skills training]”, Narra tearfully expressed. “Siguro asya Narra an ginangaran ha akon ni Tatay kay pareho ako an puno nga iya gintanom, matatag at malakas. Alam ko kaya ko ang  lahat [Maybe this is the reason why my father named me after his tree, because I am resilient and strong. I know I am capable of everything]. “Sana sugad gihap it panhuna-huna it iba nga  kababayen-an [I hope all women thinks this way]. #