Tagbina's new drainage canal supports local dev’t
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur (PIA) -- In a transformative milestone for Barangay Magsaysay, in a landlocked town of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, recently celebrated the inauguration of a new drainage canal, a project directly addressing years of flooding that had disrupted daily life and impacted local infrastructure.
Funded through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) KALAHI-CIDSS, or the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services program, the P331,570 drainage canal is an example of the current administration's focus on empowering communities to participate in shaping their own sustainable solutions.
The turnover ceremony, attended by Tagbina’s Municipal Mayor Glaiza Lanete, Sangguniang Bayan members, and representatives from the local government and community, celebrated not only the project’s impact on flood management but also the unity and dedication that brought it to life.
Mayor Lanete highlighted the journey from planning to project completion saying, “Now, we’re celebrating a completed sub-project thanks to the unwavering support of our community volunteers.” She expressed deep gratitude for the volunteers’ commitment to community-driven development, reflecting the spirit of collaboration encouraged by the administration’s focus on local empowerment and resilience.
Community volunteers who had been instrumental in the project’s success were honored during the event. These volunteers exemplified the core of KALAHI-CIDSS’s community-driven development approach, taking full ownership of the project and demonstrating how local engagement leads to sustainable change. In a recognition ceremony with the theme, "Pakiglambigit, Pakipaghiusa, Pasalamat (Collaboration, Unity, Gratitude),” community members came together to celebrate the volunteers’ contributions, which have already made a visible difference in Barangay Magsaysay.
Riza Lubrico, project preparation team chairperson and a longtime community volunteer, expressed her pride and commitment, sharing, “We, as volunteers, will never tire of working for our community. We can proudly tell our children that we were not just volunteers but part of projects that solved problems and benefited our people.”
The new drainage canal represented not only vital infrastructure but also a testament to the potential of community-driven initiatives, a focus underscored in PBBM’s national strategy to promote resilience, local growth, and sustainable solutions. Despite facing a population decline—from 1,168 residents in 1990 to 863 in 2020—Barangay Magsaysay showed how empowered communities can still achieve significant progress, proving that a united community can enact meaningful change that enriches lives and preserves resources for future generations.
Through initiatives like KALAHI-CIDSS, the DSWD supports President Marcos Jr.’s vision for grassroots empowerment, inspiring local leaders and citizens to contribute directly to the development of sustainable solutions that improve quality of life. Barangay Magsaysay’s drainage canal stands as a powerful example of this commitment, showcasing how a dedicated community can become the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Philippines. (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
