FEATURE

Homing to sow Bagong Pag-asa

Mag-baow sa Cambaol

Rowena Mercoleta was a fresh high school graduate from a public secondary high school in Alicia, Bohol, when she decided to gamble on her future. At stake was a future, but then, being staked at a farmer’s life for good, was a scary prospect on the other end of the pole.

Home is a hut atop a hill in Barangay Cambaol, some 5 kilometers of snaking dirt road leading to the foot of Mount Labawan.

She desires to help her family, but the best she could do as a fresh Grade VII graduate was to do housework.

Or she has to stay in Sitio Binabaje, where her life would probably be burning the invasive cogon grasses to clear a patch to farm or be a low-paid store keeper in the city mall.

She knows life in a farm is laborious, and when it is tilling for somebody’s land, its doubles the burden.

Farming, while it is for food, ironically puts one on wait until the harvest to earn money. Rowena has had enough of it.

Fresh from Alicia Technical Vocational National High School, she, along with a classmate, decided to go with an agency seeking domestic workers for Manila.

“It was 2013, after earthquake, and after finishing Grade VII, that we went to Manila, to work,” she said as her son Ricky III was impatiently hovering nearby.

Getting a cash advance from the agency, Rowena bought a boat ticket to Manila, with very little pocket money left for her personal needs. With work soon, she hopes she can wipe her debt and earn after a while.

But like thousands of young graduates who see Manila as the land of promise, Rowena soon realized she just bit more than she can chew.

With young graduates like her heading for the cities, the only work left was the menial jobs.

She was to help tend a store in Bulacan, and the pay was meager. If not for a guy she met, it would have been a job ending sooner than she thought.

Ricky, like her, traveled from Bicol to Manila, to seek his fortune. She found Rowena.

In the backrooms of the store they were tending, teen-age love bloomed between them.

As the love ignites, the kindling adventure for the promise in the city has sizzled; the burning desire now a flickering light nipped by the awakening truth.

Life in the city is hard. With help too far out, a little love is her refuge.

They decided soon to settle as a family. And their chances of getting out of the bond, grew slimmer. Especially when they soon had a baby.

Forced to be a full-time mother, Rowena has to keep the baby while Ricky finds a new job in a factory in Velenzuela. There, they resettled, the house rental adding much on their already tight budget.

When she conceived for their second child, they both agreed: they might not survive in the urban jungle, after all.

In 2020, they heard of the government’s program Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2).

The Program aims to provide hope for a better future to Filipinos through equity in resources and boost countryside development.

“BP2 is geared towards decongesting Metro Manila’s urban areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers like Rowena to return to their home provinces. Here, the government will assist them in this transition with support and incentives on transportation, family, livelihood, housing, subsistence and education, among others.

BPBP is also implemented in cooperation with government agencies like the Office of the President, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Presidential Management Staff, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry.

Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Economic Development Authority, National Housing Authority.

Department of Agrarian Reform, Technical Education Skills development Authority, Office of the Press Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways.

Also in are the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Finance and the Mindanao Development Authority.

Since 2020, Rowena and Ricky applied for the program, and recently, they were called for an interview.

A few weeks later, with daughter Rica Wendy Shane 5, yeas old and Ricky III, 3, Rowena boarded the plane with some few pesos cash allowance for their food.

In Panglao Bohol, outside the airport, a van was waiting to bring them home to the hills of Cambaol.

Asked how she feels upon their arrival, Rowena was speechless. When she found the words, these spilled with profuse words of thanks and appreciation.

Dugay ra gyud unta mi manguli, pero ang sweldo gani, kulang ra sa pagkaon. Daghang salamat sa goberno ug sa Balik Probinsya kay natabangan mi nga makauli.

Rowena and her kids are just three of the 25 Boholanos from five towns who have availed of the government’s BP2 to leave the city for good and arrived in Bohol last week. With them were families also from Mabini, Dauis, Bilar and Calape.

When they arrived, a short welcome program allowed them to browse through government programs that they can avail while they are transitioning to a sustainable life here.

They also received a pail-full of packed goods from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and a few kilos or rice to each member.

Also awaiting for them are livelihood packages from the DTI, DOLE, TESDA as well as work skills trainings, free education packages for kids, housing assistance, farming technologies, and other life coaching training to make them strong enough to stand and live on their own.

After all, for the BP2 beneficiaries, the government in a whole of nation approach, intends to ensure the continuous improvement of economies and quality of life in the provinces with long term plans on various investments in infrastructure, agriculture, business, transportation and access to a responsive healthcare system.

For Rowena, these offers are good, but then, two months pregnant and with her husband still in Manila to work to pay for their debts they incurred while preparing for the journey home, it would be until she can have him to work with, can she be assured of making yet another bold try.

Ricky also comes from a farming family. At most, they will have large patches of lands in Cambaol, to sow seeds of new hope. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Only 36 Bohol towns get DSWD

Kalahi CIDSS additional funding

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 10 (PIA) –Ever wondered why your town is not in the list of beneficiaries for the government’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) additional funding until 2021?

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently released a list of Bohol towns with the government’s project assistance set for 2021-2023.

These include the towns of Lila, Dimiao, Sevilla, Batuan, San Isidro, Anda, Pilar, Alicia, Dagohoy, Danao, San Miguel and Bien Unido for group 1.

For group 2 are the towns of Loon, Calape, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Ubay, Mabini, Alicia, Candijay, Duero, Jagna, Garcia Hernandez, Dimiao, Loboc, Sierra Bullones, Bilar, Batuan, Carmen, Catigbian and Balilihan.

Not in the list are Panglao, Dauis, Tagbilaran City, Cortes, Corella, Baclayon, Alburquerque, Sevilla, Sikatuna Cortes and Antequera.

According to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bohol Social Welfare and Development Chief Jimmy Crusio, the DSWD based its eligibility of the towns for the government’s additional financing on two criteria.

He cited poverty incident in the towns as one and their being affected by disasters.

He said the government considered the poverty incidence of the towns which have equal or higher than 21% poverty incidence rate according to Philippine Statistics Authority 2015 Small Area Estimates.

Areas that are badly affected by disasters from 2014 to 2020 and areas badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are among those eligible for the government help.

The government, through the DSWD KALAHI CIDSS allocated some 776,094,200.00 for the 196 sub projects identified by the communities for disaster risk reduction management.

Some 49 sub projects have so far, been completed as yet, the DSWD said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

NOT AS POOR? Twelve Bohol towns have been excluded from the KALAHI CIDSS Additional Funding assistance for 2021-2023, because they are not as poor anymore, as their poverty incidence is over the 21% poverty threshold, says DSWD Bohol SWAD Officer Jimmy Crusio, during a briefing recently. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

KALAHI in Bohol to stretch

until 2023, assures DSWD

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 10 (PIA) –As far as the government’s premier community empowerment program through the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) Comprehensive Integrated Development of Social Services (CIDSS), despite a change in administration, the program continues until 2023.

This was the categorical statement issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cluster head for Bohol and Siquijor Sharon Escabarte, during the Regional Information Officers’ Conference with the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) in Bohol, June 9 at the Bluewater Resort in Panglao.

For Bohol, the cycle gets to projects in 37 towns or 917 barangays, Escabarte said.

To date, the government has funded for the completion of 74 sub projects amounting to 776,094,200.00.

This is for the 192 sub-projects, of which 49 have been completed, says the DSWD. .

Towns in Bohol where the additional financing are implemented are Sevilla, Lila, Batuan, San Isidro, Danao, Dagohoy San Miguel, Alicia, Anda and Bien unido for group one.

The project would also be in Loon, Calape, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay, Mabini, Candijay, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna, Garcia Hernandez, Valencia, Dimiao, Bilar, Balilihan, Catigbian and Carmen.

KALAHI CIDSS is one of the prime poverty-alleviation programs of the Philippine government implemented by DSWD, which addresses the needs of poor communities, by using a community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving empowered communities in target municipalities to improved access to basic services, as well as to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation.

And while KALAHI-CIDSS’ main thrust is to empower communities through increased participation remains, an additional financing has been allotted in continuity of its programs for 2021 to 2023, Escabarte said.

The additional funding however is focused on addressing the effects of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID) pandemic and other disasters, while pursuing the institutionalization of the Community-Driven Development principles of participatory, transparency, accountability, and inclusive growth in the local development planning, she explained.

For this, the project implementation involves two phases: harmonization and institutionalization.

Harmonization entails unifying all efforts with the local planning process while using the Disaster Response Operations Modality in updating the existing Barangay Development Plan, while keeping in central focus the participatory disaster response and local community-owned planning, she illustrates.

Here, the municipal orientation and enrolment comes which can lead to the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council meeting, Barangay DRRM, needs assessment and analysis sessions which should be ushering in the sub-project development.

The proposed sub-project are then technically reviewed by the Municipal Inter Agency Council which leads to the sub project implementation and subproject completion.

On its second year, the project should be under institutionalization of the CDD in local planning and project implementation where the second sub project preparation, execution and assessment happens.

Drawing from the community planning implementation and experiences of year one, the community starts with a Barangay or Municipal DRRMC meeting, Needs Assessment and Analysis and project development to respond to the analyzed needs.

The new project undergoes BIAC or MIAC technical review again, prior to its implementation and subsequent completion.

Apart of the institutionalization phases is the setting up of accountability review committees, which elevate the empowerment to more training needs and local planning sessions. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

THE DRIVE CONTINUES. Community Driven Development (CDD) projects given additional funding by the government until 2023 would be implemented in 37 of Bohol towns, says DSWD Bohol Siquijor Cluster head Sheila Escabarte recently. Of the total sub-projects proposed for disaster and risk reduction management by the communities, 74 have been completed, she added. (rahc/PIA-7Bohol)

25 Boholanos home after

availing of Balik Probinsya

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 10 (PIA) –Twenty-five Boholano individuals joined the rising number of people disenchanted by the myths of the promise of the city and decided to come home for good to start anew.

After all, most of them do not own permanent homes or are not regularly employed, affected by the pandemic restrictions, are measly paid or are evicted from their often unsafe dwellings.

Left with barely enough to keep body and spirit together, the 25 members of the five families who realized they could not cope up with the life in the metropolis, applied for the government’s program to decongest urban poor communities in Metro Manila and its surrounding regions.

Beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya-Bagong Pag-asa (BP2), the five families from Mabini, Alicia, Bilar, Calape and Dauis received one way plane tickets to Bohol and bade goodbye to their neighbors who hardly knew them.

Lured to the metropolis for a promise of a good life, easy money and better social services, these people once saw lack of economic opportunity and support services and in their home towns, enough to venture and gamble with a life in the city.

Day-in and day out, they soon realized the harsh city environment and the crazy rat-race that forces many to go to the extreme: to kill or be killed.

As the migration to the cities grew, authorities believe there is still hope for a better future to Filipinos through equity in resources throughout the country that will boost countryside development.

Through the BP2, the government intends to addressing Metro Manila’s congested urban areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers to return to their home provinces and assist them in this transition with support and incentives on transportation, family, livelihood, housing, subsistence and education, among others, according to government sources.

Using the whole-of-nation approach which the administration is popularizing, the program thrives on the convergence of efforts of the multi-stakeholders pitching in to help the individuals or families restart a new life.

The BP2 therefore eyes an all-inclusive intervention in the reintegration of individuals and families through livelihood support, community grants, join and participate in community activities, earn skills trainings to enhance family and community readiness for disasters and preparedness in emergencies.

BP2 has assistance packages like transportation allowances and livelihood settlement grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and potential educational assistance.

Aside from transportation allowance, BP2 has prepared a transitory family support package of between P10K to P50K to cover for food and non-food items during reintegration transition and livelihood settlement grants amounting to P50K as start-up capital via the DSWD sustainable livelihood program, DTI Go Negosyo livelihood kits and even possible housing assistance from the National Housing Authority.

In fact, to sweeten the pot for the return to the towns program, the government is also assisting Local Government Units in projects needed to develop or rehabilitate areas where the returning families resettle by community grants the municipality up to P7M for basic services, P350,000 for social preparation activities per town and P200,000 for capacity building activities.

From 2021 alone, according to the DSWD, some 337 families in central Visayas have been provided transitory family support package.

About 15 families have been sent out of Manila, 3 families have opted to get livelihood settlement grants and 25 local government units have entered into an agreement with BP2 for the qualified BP2 beneficiaries. (rahc/PIA_7/Bohol)

BALIKBAYANS TOO. Boholanos returning finally to Bohol after realizing how hard it is to live in Manila get a box of goodies from the NGCP and a few kilos or rice from the Provincial Government. Upon arrival, BP2 Task Force members offered their menu of interventions and assistance for these returning paisanos. (rach/PIA-7/Bohol)