In the heart of Boston town in Davao Oriental, two remarkable projects under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) are transforming lives, bridging hope and opportunity for this third class municipality.

One of the two projects is the newly-built bridge in a portion of the river in Barangay Simulao, gaining the glee of nearby residents, including Bobby Latiban.

The 42-year-old Bobby, who has a bittersweet story tied to the area where the bridge was built, sees the project as a fulfillment of his life-long dream for the community.

“Ngayon nandito naman ang proyekto karamihan napakasaya na kami.. may madaanan na kami.. yung produkto namin tuloy tuloy na pagdala…So, lahat kami masaya na dahil protektado na din kami na magdaan sa tubig, meron nang tulay wala nang problema,” Bobby remarked, citing the positive impact of the project to their community which he has yearned for the longest time.

Bobby recalled that the residents of Barangay Simulao, mostly composed of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) of Mandayo, have always dealt with daunting challenges over the years due to their location. He knows it so well, being a resident himself and a representative of the IP community.

Their barangay is located along the Simulao river that extends to the Agusan river. The locals struggled to cross the turbulent waters of the river by foot, which back then was the only way to get to the other side of the river.

The absence of a reliable crossing structure constantly forced them to deal with perilous journeys. It meant risking their safety for the sake of education, healthcare, and commerce.

It was in 1992 when this danger cost the life of Bobby’s child. An afternoon walk with his child after a day’s work in the farm escalated into the unthinkable when the raging river brought them apart and rendered his offspring hopeless from the pressure of the water current.

“1992 ma’am, galing ako sa aking farm. Tumawid kami dito, walang ulan pero pagdating ko sa ilog na to tumawid kami pagdating namin sa gitna bigla na lang dumating ‘yung pinakamalaking baha kasama ang mga kahoy, lapok at di ko na namalayan naghawak kami ng kamay ng anak ko… inabutan ng 5 minutes di ko na namalayan hanggang sa nakalimutan ko na parang mamamatay na rin ako,” Bobby narrated, citing that it was the last moment he shared with his child.

Bobby’s sad experience was one of the stories that amplified calls for an urgent need for a stable structure to safeguard the people, which KALAHI-CIDSS responded to with the local government unit (LGU) of Simulao.

“Kinailangan namin ang ganitong proyekto para ma-proteksyunan kaming lahat ng mga tao dito… para di na katulad noon… kagaya ng buhay ng anak ko na inanod nung grade 1 pa ang kanyang edad,” Bobby said.

The project fell under the KALAHI-CIDSS’ Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project which focused on improving access of conflict-affected and vulnerable areas to basic social services and accountable governance in identified PAMANA zones utilizing the Community- Driven Development (CDD) approach.

With a length of 114-meter pathway made of steel, wood, and cable wire upon its completion, the hanging bridge has opened up a new world of possibilities for the community.

The local students can now attend classes regularly. With significant ease, families can access their needs from the other side without getting wet while crossing the river.

The hanging bridge project is also a major boost to the agricultural sector, which is helping out 345 farmers from the village allowing them to use the structure as a farm-to-market road during the harvest season.

With this, Bobby could not contain his joy, acknowledging the positive effects of the project to the livelihood of the residents.

“Yan ang doble kita, di na kami mahirapan, walang problema na kami sa pagtawid dahil wala ng problema tuloy-tuloy na kami makadaan kahit tag-ulan wala nang problema. Sa ngayon, karamihan lahat ng naka-ano dito magdo-doble na talaga ang kita ng mga farmers dahil sa itong daanan walang problema dahil tuloy tuloy na kami makadaan kahit tag-ulan, walang problema,” Bobby said.

In a nearby area, the inauguration of a daycare facility in Barangay Poblacion marked yet another milestone for the KALAHI-CIDSS. This time, in easing access to early education for the children of the community.

This project, also under the KALAHI-CIDSS, was raised when the DSWD met with the community members of Barangay Poblacion to identify priority projects for the community.

After comprehensive discussions of processes, the daycare facility has risen as more than just a place for children to learn. It is now acclaimed as a culmination of another government-led effort to enhance the living conditions of the locals.

Delilah Saloveres, who is among the parents of the children accommodated by the daycare center, lauded the project for its contribution to the community.

“As a parent maginhawa dito sa amin… kasi ang daycare, malapit na po sa amin, di na kami mamamasahe. Ngayon nagpapasalamat kami kasi malaking tulong sa amin na mga parents lalo na sa mga anak kasi kumportable na sila dito,” said Delilah, who is also a leader of a child development center in their community.

The impact of the daycare extends beyond individual families, it strengthens the community as a whole. With parents able to work and pursue alternative activities, the local productivity thrives boosting the community’s economy.

Moreover, both projects exemplify the power of community engagement and the importance of investing in local needs. The hanging bridge and the daycare facility not only address urgent needs but also lay the groundwork for long-term development.

Side by side, they affirm the purpose of the KALAHI-CIDSS as a poverty reduction program employing the CDD approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.

As the community continues to grow and adapt, these projects symbolize a brighter future, one where challenges can be transformed into opportunities.

Through the joint efforts of the DSWD and the active participation of the locals, this is not just addressing crossing gaps — it is building a sustainable pathway to prosperity and a better future.

The KALAHI-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine government being implemented by the DSWD. It uses the community-driven development approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.

Through the CDD, community members actively participate to identify and prioritize their community’s concerns and allow them to design, implement, and manage solutions to their priority community problems.

The heartwarming story of Barangay Simulao was featured over Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP), an online documentary. It is hosted by Traditional Media Service (TMS) Director Aldrine Fermin and posted every Tuesday in the DSWD’s official Facebook page. #