Distance is not a hindrance to reach remote areas in the 1st district of the province when it comes to implementing programs for the community during these trying times. Not only that the residents are suffering from passing through muddy, rocky and unpaved roads or pathway but also are struggling in providing support for their families with the loss of livelihood because of the pandemic. 

 The community of Brgy. Upper Omon and Amomokpok in Ragay, Camarines Sur are some of the remote areas that benefitted from the Ka Fuerte Cash-for-Work Program. Through the program, these two communities were able to benefit from the infrastructure project such as construction of path walks as well as provision of temporary means of livelihood to the laborer-beneficiaries who worked under the program. 

Change and hope for a mason and his neighbors 

In Zone 2 of Barangay Amomokpok, Henry Jarrbejo is one of the laborer-beneficiaries and a resident who was able to witness the changes brought by the program to the community. As a resident for more than 30 years, he said that this is one of the programs that they have been requesting for a very long time.

Recalling the past situation of the pathway, “Dati, dae digdi malaogan nin mga paratinda. Dae man basta-basta nalalaog ini ta malabuy0n an lugar na ini kaya dakulang tabang po samuya ngunyan ta passable na po ini saka dawa si isay na po an nakakaagi.” Henry said.

“Dakulaon pong bagay an makabali kami sa Cash-for-Work Program ta enot na enot, natatawanan kami nin magayon na agihan na path walk na haloy mi nang hinahagad tapos dawa papano natawanan kami nin pagkakan o pansuporta sa harong dahil igdi,” he also added. 

Henry is a mason and this had been his means of livelihood. However, he says that his job is unstable. He has been getting little from it so he also accepted other jobs that would require his skills and also resort to backyard gardening. “Pag igwang trabaho, nakakakua man. Pero pag mayo, matiyaga na lang sa kun ano an yaon na. Pag mayo akong trabaho, nagtatanom-tanom ako. Nag-backyard gardening ako ta dakulang bagay man yan lalo na ngunyan para pansuporta sa pagbuhay. Dawa papano, may makukua nin kwarta sa pagtanom saka an pagkakan mi, libre na,” he shared. 

Henry along with the nine other laborer-beneficiaries worked for 12 days to complete the construction of path walk. Now that the path walk they all have dreamed of is now realized and they also received the financial assistance that comes from their hard work, Henry was grateful and shared that the payment that he received will be used to buy for their food sustenance. “An makukua ko sa payout, ipapangbakal ko na nin bagas o pagkakan. Pasigurado na ako ta yan an pinakaimportante samuya. Basta may bagas ta an panira, nakukua na lang baga. Dakulang tabang na siya samuya kaya dakula an pasasalamat mi na may arog kaning ginibo na programa sa samuyang barangay na saro sa natawanan nin prayoridad kan programa.”

Path walk as bridge of farmer’s goods to the market

Aside from the path walk that was constructed in Zone 2 of Brgy. Amomokpok, another path walk was also constructed connecting it to the fields which has benefitted the farmers who own rice fields. The construction of path walk made it easier for the farmers to finally transport their goods. 

According to Brgy. Captain Marlyn Garcia, she requested for the construction of the path walk on their barangay to help the farmers living there. “Nasasakitan igdi an mga paraoma sa pagluwas kan saindang mga kalakal lalo pag abot kaning aldaw kan aranihan, siring man kun tag-uran, nasasakitan sinda sa pagluwas kan saindang paroy kasi nadodoble an saindang pagbayad. Enot na enot, tawo lang talaga an pwedeng makaagi, dae kaya makalaog an lunadan maski motor. Dakulang katabangan na po yan sa mga taga igdi ta sa ngunyan, pwede na sinda maghabal-habal, nabawasan naman si dagdag bayad ninda sa pag-hauling kan produkto.” 

Cading Año, a farmer who owns a piece of rice fields in Brgy. Amomokpok said that the construction of path walk has been benefitting them who had been struggling in transporting their goods outside their barangay, “An paroy mi po pig-aagi mi po yan diyan sa pathway na iyan paluwas. Mas nagin pasil na ngunyan para samo sa pagluwas kan mga ani mi ta dae na malaboy an inaagihan mi, sementado na. Dati kaya daga lang yang agihan mi diyan tapos kadto syempre pag mauran, nagbabaha, malaboy. Ngunyan, pasil na an pagluwas kan mga produkto arog kan paroy saka batag. Kaya dakula man an pasasalamat mi sa mga nagpagibo asin nagtrabaho para magkaigwa nin marhay na agihan para samong mga paroma.” 

Infrastructure projects such as the construction of path walks through the Ka Fuerte Cash-for-Work Program is one of the efforts being push through by the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur to continuously resolve issues on the loss of livelihood and unemployment during this pandemic and to ease the burden of Camarinenses in remote areas with unpaved passages.