Access Road: A dream come true

It was a dream come true to the residents of Brgy. Anopog to see the 400 meters concrete access road inaugurated.

“Dako kaayo among kalipay nga nahuman gyud ang karsada diri, kay sa una lisod gyud kaming mga ginikanan mag baba sad mi, ilabi na mga kinder pa, dili makasugakod og labang sa lapukon ug guba ngadalan (We are happy that this concrete road is finished. Before it was so difficult for parents to bring their children to school because they would have to carry the children especially those in kindergarten,” shared Cirila Benigay a resident of Barangay Anopog and a Pantawid beneficiary.

The town of Pinamungajan is one of the several towns affected by Typhoon Auring that hit the country on January 8, 2017. The town of Pinamungajan was severely flooded and its barangay roads were destroyed including barangay Anopog, where access road to school was destroyed and buried in knee-deep mud and flood waters.

“This concrete road makes a difference in the life of 680 students in our school. It brings positive effect on them. They are now motivated to attend classes despite heavy downpour because they no longer wade on muddy road. I am hopeful that there would be an increase on attendance rate of students especially the 156 Pantawid beneficiaries, which would eventually increase their education compliance rate,” said Mr. Vianney Abellanosa, school principal.

He said that since the road is now elevated and concreted, the parents and the 25 teaching staff of the school are already assured of the safety of the students.

Meanwhile, Abellanosa also expressed with gratitude for this life-changing experience he and his teachers and students have in working with Kalahi-CIDSS.

The students and teachers of Anopog Elementary School helped the community volunteers to gain votes during the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF). They presented photos of teachers and students carefully and patiently walking their way through muddy paths. Their vivid presentation convinced the MIBF participants to vote for them and indeed, Barangay Anopog got the 1st place in the prioritization list.

The completion of the 400-meter access road brings joy and hope not only to the students and teachers but also to the residents living in nearby sitios.

The Php 2.6 million access road has benefited 830 households and made their dream come true.