After her short stint working with Indigenous Peoples in her community, Irish Paclibar made a turning point to resign from her job and become a full-time volunteer for a community-driven development project.
“Gusto nako ma enjoy akong life pinaagi sa pagtabang sa community. Bahala’g dili tanan kay yano raman ko, pero naa koy part.”
(I want to enjoy my life by helping my community. I may not give everything because I am just an ordinary person, at least I have a part)
Irish, 32, and a mother of two, hails from barangay Mabuhay, in San Fernando, Bukidnon—a community grappling with needs in basic social services. When local officials called for volunteers for the rehabilitation of their Day Care Centers (DCCs), she immediately stepped forward.
San Fernando town is a recipient of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS). It is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for over two decades, providing small-scale infrastructures to improve access to basic services.
When Irish signed up for the program, little did she know of the impact it would have on her. “Grabe ang transformation sa ako. Hangtod karon, dala-dala nako.”
(The transformation in me was incredible. Until now, I still carry it.)
The community’s top priority
What impressed Irish was that it wasn’t local officials deciding which project to undertake, but rather an inclusive and systematic approach to identifying the community’s most pressing needs. Through a Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA), a mechanism used by KALAHI-CIDSS to identify priority problems in the community, their group pushed for the renovation of two day care centers.
For years, children in DCCs have endured inadequate facilities, grappling with dilapidated classrooms, poor sanitation, and the problem of malnutrition. In 2023, six out of 75 enrolled children were identified as malnourished.
The DSWD regularly conducts supplementary feeding programs in DCCs. However, parents face challenges in food preparation due to the lack of a proper venue. Teachers also noted a declining enrollment rate.
“Dili kaayo ganahan mangeskwela ang mga bata kay dili presentable among room,” said Evelyn Loro, Day Care Worker.
(The children are not very eager to go to school because our classroom is not presentable.)
Parent Virjet Andallaza, added, “Kung mangihi or magbawas among bata, kinahanglan pa mi mo uli kay walay CR ang classroom.”
(If our child needs to urinate or defecate, we have to go home because there is no restroom in the classroom.)
With this, the Community Nutrition Subproject Management Committee (CNSPMC) led by Irish proposed the renovation of their DCCs.
The KALAHI experience
Irish and her fellow volunteers participated in a series of capacity-building activities organized by KALAHI-CIDSS to implement the project. Their hands-on experience—from proposal writing and ensuring environmental and social safeguards to selecting the right contractor, managing finances, overseeing construction, and planning for operation and maintenance—provided them with immense learning opportunities.
“Gi capacitate mi sa KALAHI para mao gyuy mangunay sa proyekto. Didto nako nakat-unan nga dili diay ta basta-basta mag implement kung dili ta moagi og sakto nga proseso. Abi nato tungod kay naa nay kwarta, implement na dayon. Daghan diay agian nga protocol,” Irish shared.
(KALAHI capacitated us to take the lead in implementing the project. That’s where I realized that we cannot just implement a project without the proper process. We used to think that as long as the funds are available, we could proceed immediately. But there are actually many protocols to follow.)
In the past, Irish was indifferent to government initiatives in her community. However, her involvement in KALAHI-CIDSS made her truly appreciate the concept of community-driven development (CDD).
“Sa among naagian sa KALAHI, kinahanglan gyud diay ang among participation labi na sa planning ug decision-making kay kami ang nasayod sa panginahanglanon.”
(Our experience in KALAHI has shown us that our active participation, especially in planning and decision-making, is vital because we are the ones who truly understand our real needs.)
“Naghatag ang CDD og transformation sa among pagkatawo. Ang dili namo mahimo sanuna, kaya na tungod sa empowerment nga gihatag kanamo.”
(CDD has transformed us. What we couldn’t do before, we can now accomplish because of the empowerment it has given us.)
Project impact
Today, the renovated Day Care Centers provide a safer, more comfortable, and child-friendly learning environment. Each classroom has two separate restrooms for boys and girls, an expanded kitchen and feeding area, and a dedicated handwashing station.
“Karon nga mas kumpleto na ang Day Care, ang parents, dili na ipa eskwela ilang anak sa laing lugar, diri na,” said Virjet, a parent.
(With the improved Day Care, parents now choose to enroll their children here instead of elsewhere.)
From 2023 to 2025, the enrollment rate in Dumaleg DCC has increased from 27 to 32 children, while Mabuhay Poblacion DCC has also increased from 48 to 53 enrollees.
Malnourished cases, however, were eliminated with only three underweight children remaining.
“The new facilities brought by KALAHI have truly supported our efforts in improving water, sanitation, and hygiene,” said Municipal Health Officer Dr. Maria Algerlina Edma.
Barangay Mabuhay has also been a recipient of two water system projects in previous KALAHI-CIDSS implementation.
CDD advocacy
Two years after the program, Irish now serves as the Barangay’s Secretary. She was appointed to the position following her active involvement with KALAHI-CIDSS. Recognizing the impact of CDD, she advocated for the institutionalization of the PSA and the necessity of Operation and Maintenance Funds for all KALAHI-funded and barangay-led projects.
“Kung unsang transformation nga naa nako karon, sa akong pagka aktibo, pagka concern sa community, it’s because of KALAHI,” Irish shared.
(The transformation I have today—my activeness and concern for the community—is because of KALAHI.)
“Dili lang diay [ang KALAHI] mohatag og proyekto sa katawhan, apan mohatag pod diay siya og kaalam, diin makatabang nga molambo ang komunidad ug lakip ang among personal nga kalambuan.”
([KALAHI] does not only provide projects to the people but also imparts knowledge that helps develop the community and contributes to our personal growth)
The impact of PMNP on the lives of children, parents, teachers, volunteers, and with Irish clearly reflects the true purpose of KALAHI-CIDSS—empowerment; one community at a time.