Clean water gushes from the newly completed water system, a long-awaited relief for farmers and families who once struggled with scarcity. Funded by DSWD’s KALAHI-CIDSS program, the project promises a future where no one has to walk miles for a bucket of water. (File photo courtesy of DSWD 10 KALAHI-CIDSS)
SUMILAO, Bukidnon (PIA)– Farmers in Kisolon village in Sumilao town have long faced a silent struggle—the search for sufficient water. For decades, they endured parched fields, long treks to fetch water, and uncertain whether their crops would survive another dry spell. But in February, everything changed.
A newly completed water system project, funded by the government’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan—Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), was handed over to the community. For the villagers, this was more than just a pipeline—it was a lifeline.
KALAHI-CIDSS, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program, fights poverty using a community-driven development approach to alleviate poverty and improve governance in targeted rural areas.
Dream come true
For lawyer and Kisolon village chief Veronica Vera Socorro Lumantas, the struggle for water is deeply challenging.
“We, in Kisolon, are beyond grateful for this project. I remember the days when we had no water. Our only request was a reliable water supply. When I became Punong Barangay [village chief], I saw how impossible it was to budget for a P3.9-million water system. I am immensely thankful to KALAHI-CIDSS for making this happen,” she said.
Jezon Romano, chief of the Social Development Division at the KALAHI-CIDSS central office, said the journey was not easy. He revealed that the project almost did not push through due to strict water safety regulations.
“Ito ‘yong proyekto na muntik nang hindi matuloy dahil sa concern on potability test. Kasi hindi nag po-pundo ng proyektong patubig ang DSWD kung ang isang source ng tubig ay ‘di malinis. Ang isa pong panuntunan ng DSWD ay siguradohing malinis ang tubig na gagamitin ng mga tao sa Barangay,” he explained.
(DSWD does not fund water projects unless the source is clean and safe. There were concerns about the potability test. Without passing it, the project would have been scrapped.)
But the community refused to give up. The leaders worked tirelessly to meet safety standards, knowing that this project would change lives—not just for farmers, but for children who no longer had to walk miles for a bucket of water, for mothers who could now cook and clean with ease, and for families who could finally drink without fear of water contamination.
More than infrastructure
During the turnover ceremony, Senator Imee Marcos, a strong advocate of KALAHI-CIDSS and its mission to empower communities in addressing their most pressing needs, emphasized that success does not lie just in building the water system but in ensuring its long-term sustainability.
“Empowering communities is not just about giving them projects. It’s about ensuring that these projects will last for generations. This water system is a step toward self-sufficiency, but its impact depends on how well it is maintained,” she said.
Acknowledging the government’s strong support, Sumilao town Mayor Jose Antonio Villo emphasized that the people of Kisolon now look forward to brighter opportunities.
“Now, with a steady flow of water, our villagers no longer have to fight for survival—we can finally focus on building a sustainable future,” the mayor said. (JNCL/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
