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FEBRUARY 2023 HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE; A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS GOOD GOVERNANCE OF NAMPICUAN vision of delivering the needs of its people and providing a place where their kailian (kabayan) Nampicuan is a fifth-class municipality in Nueva Ecija and is located in the farthest part of the province, making the delivery of healthcare to the people a great challenge for the local government. With this, the LGU proposed "Priority Projects for Health and Medical Programs – Purchase of Medicines and Medical Equipment/Devices'', which was then realized with the help of the F.Y. 2022 Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSFFALGU) of the DILG. The Php 5,000,000.00 purchase of medicines and medical equipment provided easier access to healthcare services not only to the senior citizens of Nampicuan but also to all their Kailian who needed medical assistance. Residents don’t need to travel to neighboring cities or municipalities and worry about their expenses just to get their primary care. With the project, the LGU is now one step closer to their dream of providing their constituents with basic needs within their doorstep. A can access basic healthcare services—these are just some of the dreams of the Municipality of Nampicuan for its constituents. 52 BANYUHAY
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FEBRUARY 2023 Napakalaking bagay ng pagbibigay ng gamot sa amin. Mas malapit na iyong pagkukuhanan ng gamot. Hindi na kailangang magpunta ng ibang bayan. Ngayon kung talagang kailangan na ng senior citizen ang gamot, nandyan na iyong makukuha namin dito sa pamayanan ng Nampicuan. Sebera Orcino President, Senior Citizen Association of the Philippines – Nampicuan Chapter 54 BANYUHAY
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MARCH 2023 56 BANYUHAY PAVED ROADS AND RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: SBDP PROJECTS TOWARDS A MORE PEACEFUL GABALDON
MARCH 2023 BANYUHAY 57 paved road can invigorate the local economic activities by enhancing accessibility for A road users, but the situation changes at night when visibility becomes limited. The road that was envisioned to help the people may bring them danger during the afterhours. Dreaming to provide a safer place for their constituents, the Municipality of Gabaldon proposed the "Concreting of Farm-to-Market Road" and "Rural Electrification" for its three (3) barangays. The projects came to realization with the help of the F.Y. 2022 Local Government Support Fund - Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) of the DILG.
MARCH 2023 The barangays of Calabasa, Ligaya, and Malinao received an individual allocation of Php 4,000,000.00 from the SBDP, which was apportioned for the road concreting and rural electrification projects in each barangay. This provided the residents with not just better road access but also reduced the danger and gave them wider visibility when traversing at night. With this, locals can now feel a sense of safety during the afterhours. The concreting of farm-to-market road and rural electrification in the Municipality of Gabaldon demonstrated how the LGSF-SBDP has helped the LGUs to usher development and deliver improved basic services to physically isolated and former communist conflictafflicted barangays of the country. 58 BANYUHAY
MARCH 2023 BANYUHAY 59 Nagpapasalamat kami dahil binigyan ng pagkakataon na maayos itong aming kalsada na dati ay bako-bako. Hirap dumaan lahat ng mga sasakyan kasi malalaki ang mga bato, nagkakaroon pa ng mga aksidente. Pero dahil sa programang ito, naging maayos na. Hindi na rin kami nag-aalala dahil madilim lalo na pag nag brownout. Ngayon, sobrang liwanag na akala mo araw din. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa ginawang proyekto na ito. Naging maayos ang lahat, excellent talaga! Elisa Asuncion Resdient
2023 1ST QUARTER PAMP NGA PAMP NGA Province of Province of 60 BANYUHAY
2023 1ST QUARTER BANYUHAY 61 M t . A r a y a t N a t i o n a l P a r k , A r a y a t , P a m p a n g a WIKIPEDIA
JANUARY 2023 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE RIVER WALL WITH A BOARDWALK: A PERFECT BLEND OF AESTHETICS AND FUNCTIONALITY he Municipality of Minalin, Pampanga is a recipient of the FY 2021 Local Government TSupport Fund - Financial Support to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) program, which aims to capacitate the local government units to sustain a progressive and resilient communities. 62 BANYUHAY
JANUARY 2023 Minalin, originally known as Minalis, is a fourth class highly urbanized municipality in the province of Pampanga. Large scale production and distribution of chicken and eggs made the town the Egg basket of Luzon. The town is home of the 4 centuries old church, the Santa Monica Parish Church that has a pre-colonial architectural motif alongside its European- Catholic iconography and " Aguman Sanduk" New Year's Celebration that showcase creativity of the people in Minalin. Minalin's prosperity is also due to the hard work of the people of Barangay Sto. Rosario, situated on the river side and they are the primary beneficiaries of the support fund. Before the construction of the River Wall with Boardwalk, people living in the area had a hard time going to different places because of the muddy ground that everyone would pass. It is also where boat dock to send students to school. Tricycle drivers and store owners cannot gain enough income to provide for their families because of this inconvenience. BANYUHAY 63
JANUARY 2023 64 BANYUHAY In November 2021, a newly constructed 80-meter road with breathtaking scenery was completed, putting an end to the struggles of the residents of Barangay Sto Rosario. The project cost Php 3.0 million and has provided exercise opportunities and benefits to the locals. The successful realization of the project was a result of meticulous inspection, constant communication between stakeholders, and collaboration between local engineers and the DILG Pampanga project team. The officials promised to continuously monitor the area and consult with the beneficiaries to ensure preservation and maintenance of the project.
JANUARY 2023 Dahil po sa proyektong ito, hindi na po gumuguho yung lupa sa may riverbank. Permanente na pong maproproteksyunan ang daan na ito at hindi na po kami mangangambang magkaroon ng mga aksidente. BANYUHAY 65 Amado Batalier, Jr. Resident
FEBRUARY 2023 ON THE WAY TO PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES he Municipality of Sta. Ana, Pampanga, Thome for 61,537 residents, is a landlocked With that, it is an opportunity for Sta. Ana, Pampanga to attract residents from other towns through the provision of transportation infrastructure such as local access roads and well-built drainage canals. Aside from providing an adequate road to its residents, it also invites traders as it becomes easier to traverse the municipality with the help of the newly-constructed roads. 66 BANYUHAY town in the coastal province of Pampanga. It has a strategic location as evident through its neighboring owns – Arayat, Pampanga and Mexico, Pampanga. Thus, it attracts a lot of investors and businessmen to visit or pass through the municipality.
FEBRUARY 2023 Through the help of the Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU) F.Y. 2022, four projects – three access roads and one drainage canal – were implemented in the municipality. Previously, said roads used to be unpassable. But with the help of the FALGU Program, Brgys. San Juan-San Joaquin, Sta. Maria, and Sta. Lucia paved the way for more opportunities for the town and its constituents. BANYUHAY 67 FALGU projects really helped the residents in a way that improved their current land transportation. Once an unpassable road especially during rainy days, the concrete road in Brgy. San Juan-San Joaquin, Sta. Ana, Pampanga is now a road that helps in avoiding the traffic when going to Mexico, Pampanga. Likewise, the new access road in Brgy. Sta. Maria, Sta. Ana, Pampanga was previously a rough road wherein only carabaos would dare to pass through.
FEBRUARY 2023 Kapag po umuulan mahirap po siyang daanan, Pero ngayom po, mas madali na po kaming nakakapunta sa bayan ng Mexico lalo na at nakakaiwas po kami sa traffic. Maraming salamat po sa proyekto na ginawa ng DILG para sa Bayan ng Sta. Ana, Lalo na dito sa access road na ginawa nila sa San Joaquin, at salamat din po sa munisipyo dahil sa ginawa nilang tulong at paglakad po ng proyekto na ito. Irish John Roger Paglingayen Resident, Brgy. San Joaquin, Sta. Ana Dati po itong daan n ang nakakadaan, kas hindi papo ito deve initiative at pagsisi nakaupo, sa ating ma DILG, ngayon po ang naayos na. Madali na ang mga kalakal o pro barangay at mada nailuluwas papunta kaginhawaan po sa am Maraming salamat po Marito M Resident, Brgy. Sta 68 BANYUHAY
FEBRUARY 2023 Musngi ta. Maria, Sta. Ana Mula po noong ginawa po itong drainage na proyekto ng aming barangay at ng DILG, nabawasan o nawala na po yung tubig o madalas ay baha dito sa main road ng aming barangay. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa aming mga ka-barangay at kay kapitana, kay mayor at sa DILG po, Maraming salamat po. Ricardo Cunanan Resident, Brgy. Sta. Maria, Sta. Ana na ito kalabaw lang po se dahil po sa putik at elop. Pero dahil po sa ikap po ng ating mga ayor at sa tulong po ng g kalsada po na ito ay po naming mailalabas odukto sa ating mga kaali na po nila itong a sa market. Malaking amin mga ka barangay. o at Mabuhay po kayo. BANYUHAY 69
MARCH 2023 70 BANYUHAY
MARCH 2023 PAVING THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE reams do come true as the people pass through a path without getting water Din their feet – one of the many desperate hopes of the constituents in the Municipality of Macabebe. Macabebe, an ancient town in the modern-day province of Pampanga, is closely linked to the Pampanga River (Río Grande de la Pampanga) and located in the coastal area of the province. Hence, if the town is hit by a calamity, the roads become unpassable. The residents of Barangay Caduang Tete mobilizes their boats as an alternative to the usual transport system that has paralyzed the transfer of passengers from one place to another. In order to address this, the LGU proposed the “Construction of Farm-to Market Road at Sitio Nabong, Caduang Tete, Macabebe, Pampanga,” which was successfully realized through the F.Y. 2021 Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). In September 2022, the struggles encountered by the people of Caduang Tete have finally ceased after the realization of the newly-constructed farm-to-market road. The road, which costs Php 8.989 million, has a stretch of 743 linear meter, width of 6 meters, and thickness of 0.2 meter. Residents and passersby ecstatically rejoiced in the completion of this dream project that caused a vast improvement in their daily life. Likewise, the target beneficiaries expressed their gratitude as the project has also improved the trade industry in the area. BANYUHAY 71
MARCH 2023 By improving access to markets for agricultural inputs and outputs, this road reduced transaction costs and enhanced market integration. Barangay Captain, Brigilda Blanco gave insight on the scale of the project’s impact saying, “Maraming opportunities para sa gagamit po rito lalo na sa may malawak na bukirin. Yung produkto po nila ay mabilis nang nailalabas dahil po dito sa naipagawang FTMR. Malaking tulong po ito sa aming barangay sapagkat ilang hectares po ng lupain ang sinasaka ng aming mga farmers na gumagamit sa farm to market road na ito. Noon ang daang ito ay masyado pong malubak kaya’t ang singil sa karyada ng aming mga produkto ay umaabot po ng 50 Pesos hanggang makalagpas sa sementeryo. Grabe po ang kalagayan nito noon dahil hanggang baywang ang tubig tuwing umuulan kaya mina mano-mano lang ng mga magsasaka ang paglabas patungo sa pamilihang bayan sa kanilang mga aning palay.” 72 BANYUHAY
BANYUHAY 73 MARCH 2023 Mula po noong ginawa po itong drainage na proyekto ng aming barangay at ng DILG, nabawasan o nawala na po yung tubig o madalas ay baha dito sa main road ng aming barangay. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa aming mga ka-barangay at kay kapitana, kay mayor at sa DILG po, Maraming salamat po. Ricardo Cunanan Resident, Brgy. Sta. Maria, Sta. Ana
2023 1ST QUARTER ARLAC Province of 74 BANYUHAY
2023 1ST QUARTER BANYUHAY 75 C a p a s N a t i o n a l S h r i n e , C a p a s , T a r l a c GLENN MENDOZA
JANUARY 2023 sa ang transportasyon sa mga napakahalagang bagay upang mapabuti at magbigay ng daanan sa iba’t- ibang lokasyon para sa SA MAAYOS NA TRANSPORTASYON, PAG-UNLAD AY SWICTHED ON! I mga negosyo, kargamento, at personal na paglalakay. Ito din ang isa sa mga atayan upang malaman ang kalagayan ng pag-ulad ng isang lokal na pamahalaan sa aspetong pang-konomiya. Ang Siyudad ng Tarlac, bilang sentro ng kalakalan at kabisera ng Probinsya ng Tarlac, ay nananatili sa kanyang misyon na maging pangunahing lungsod na tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng kanyang nasasakupan upang matamo nito ang adhikain na maging isang agro-industrial at logistic hub. Ngunit paano makakamit ang layuning ito kung ang mga daan sa siyudad ay baku-bako, maputik tuwing umuulan, at kadalasan ay nagiging dahilan ng pagka-antala ng transportasyon ng mga produkto at pag- tungo ng mga estudyante sa paaralan? 76 BANYUHAY
JANUARY 2023 Dahil dito, malugod na ipinagkaloob ng Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal ng Probinsya ng Tarlac sa ilalim ng programang nitong Financial Assistance to Local Government Units o FALGU ang pondong alokasyon na nagkakahalagang 9,765,631.49 piso. Ito ay nakatuon sa rehabilitasyon at pagpapaganda ng konkretong daan sa siyudad. Sa pagtatapos ng konstruksyon ng nasabing proyekto noong ika-2 ng Disyembre, taong 2022, ang bagong konkretong daan ay may habang 0.576 kilometro, may lapad na 5 metro, at kapal na 0.23 metro. Nasa 5,893 naman ang naging benepisyaryo ng daang ito na binabagtas ang dalawang barangay, partikular na ang Barangay ng Baras-Baras at Sto. Niño. Samantala, puspos ang pasasalamat ng siyudad ng Tarlac sa proyektong ito ng Kagawaran. Sa daang ito, naging maayos ang dating baku-bako, naging ligtas ang paglakad ng mga estudyante, at umarangkada na ang transportasyon ng kapaki-pakinabang na mga produkto at serbisyo para sa publiko. Isang patunay na isa ang transportasyon sa mga batayan ng pag-unlad ng isang komunidad dahil ang maayos na transportasyon ay nagbibigay pag-asa sa mga mamamayan tungo sa mas progresibo at mas maunlad na pamumuhay sa kanilang komunidad na patuloy namang sasang-ayunan at bibigyang importansya ng Kagawaran. BANYUHAY 77
JANUARY 2023 78 BANYUHAY
Dati po ang daan na ito ay bako-bako, maalikabok, at maputik, pero dahil po sa proyektong ito nasolusyonan po ang aming problema at ng aming karatig barangay na dito rin po dumadaan. Kitang-kita na po ang ganda ng aming barangay at malaking tulong po ito sa aming mga estudyante at sa mga negosyante. Maraming Salamat po! JANUARY 2023 BANYUHAY 79 Rochelle Kate Tagara Student
FEBRUARY 2023 80 BANYUHAY STREETLIGHT SA BARANGAY: SEGURIDAD AT PROGRESO’Y TO THE MAX! ng seguridad ng mamamayan ang pangunahing nating Aprayoridad. Ang pagkakaroon ng maayos na kalsada ay mahalaga sa mga residente, at kung sasamahan pa natin ito ng Streetlights ay lubos itong mas makakatulong sakanila tungo sa mas ligtas at maliwanag na kalsada. Layunin ng proyektong ito na maghatid liwanag sa kalsada ng Barangay Burgos, lalo na sa gabi kung saan mas madalas ang aksidente o nakawan na maaaring mangyari. Ang kawalan ng mga ilaw sa kalsada ay isa sa mga sanhi ng mga di kanais-nais na pangyayari na maaring mangyari sa daan, gaya ng nakawan o aksidente. Kung kaya naman tila nawalan ng tinik sa lalamunan ang mga residente ng Barangay Burgos dulot ng proyektong hatid para sakanila. Naging mas ligtas ang kanilang pagbay-bay ng kalsada sa paghatid ng kanilang produkto at nawala rin ang pangamba sa mga residente. Ang proyektong ito ay nakapailalim sa Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU) 2022. Tinatayang nasa Lima (5) Kilometro ang haba ng daan na nalagyan ng Streetlights na may bilang na 113 Streetlight Posts. Ayon sa mga residente ng Barangay Burgos, napakalaki ng maitutulong nito sakanila, mula sa bako-bakong daan, unti-unti itong naisaayos at ngayon nga ay mayroon nang streetlights ang kanilang kalsada.
FEBRUARY 2023 BANYUHAY 81
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FEBRUARY 2023 BANYUHAY 83 Dati, mayroon ng streetlights dito ngunit magkakalayo sila at hindi sila gaanong maliwanag. Ngayon, standardized na ang agwat ng mga ito kaya naman mas lumiwanag na at hindi na nahihirapan ang mga dumadaan at di na sila nangangamba. Hon. Crisolito Agustin Punong Barangay
MARCH 2023 PASILIDAD PANGKALUSUGAN: PARA SA LAHAT, PARA SA PAG-UNLAD sa sa pangunahing mandato ng bawat bayan dito sa bansa ay ang pagpapabuti ng kalusugan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan at pagbibigay ng accesss, abot-kaya at mataas na 84 BANYUHAY I kalidad ng pangangalagang pangkalusugan. Ito ay hindi lamang isang panlipunan na pangangailangan, bagkus, ito rin ay isang makabuluhang elemento upang mapanatili at pagibayuhin ang pangmatagalang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya at ng lipunan. Ito ang isa sa mga misyon ng bayan ng San Manuel, isang fourth-class municipality na matatagpuan sa pinakahilagang dako ng lalawigan ng Tarlac. Prayoridad ng bayan ang pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng bawat mamamayan nito. Ang bayan ng San Manuel ay isang karaniwang pamayanan sa kanayunan na malayo sa sentro ng probinsya. Dahil dito ay dagdag pahirap sa mamamayan ng bayan, partikular na ang mga nasa Barangay Poblacion, ang gastos sa pamasahe at labis na init ng sikat ng araw sa kanilang paglalakbay patungong ibang bayan upang magpagamot. Ito ang naging dahilan ng pagkakatatag ng proyektong Multi-Purpose Building na magiging Community Health Center Extension ng bayan.
MARCH 2023 Ang proyektong ito ay may pondong nagkakahalaga ng sampung milyong piso at nabuo sa ilalim ng programang Financial Assistance to local Government Unit (FALGU) na hatid naman ng Kagarawan ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal – Probinsya ng Tarlac. Ihahatid ng San Manuel Community Health Center Extension ang mga serbisyong pampubliko na nakasentro sa pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng bawat tao. BANYUHAY 85
86 BANYUHAY MARCH 2023 Ipagkakaloob din ng pasilidad na ito ang karagdagang serbisyong pangkalusugan tulad ng Animal Bite Treatment Center. Dahil sa proyektong ito, lubos ang naging pasasalamat ng mga mamamayan ng San Manuel dahil hindi na nila kailangang alalahahin ang dagdag pamasahe at init ng araw para lamang magpagamot sa ibang bayan. Ang pagbibigay ng proteksyon at pantay na pag-access sa de-kalidad na pangangalagang pangkalusugan ay may positibong epekto sa paglago at pag-unlad ng ekonomiya na siya namang laging sinusuportahan ng Kagawaran.
MARCH 2023 BANYUHAY 87 Rodolfo Cabralda Resident Dati po ay dumarayo pa kaming mga taga San Manuel sa karatig bayan para magpagamot at ‘yung mga nakagat po ng aso at iba pa pong mga sakit, pupunta pa po sa ibang bayan. Ngayon po dahil sa mabuting puso at project ng ating mayora at ng DILG po ay natulungan po nila kami na mas napadali po ang aming pamumuhay.
2023 1ST QUARTER 88 BANYUHAY ZAMB LES Province of
2023 1ST QUARTER BANYUHAY 89 L a k e M a p a n u e p e , S a n M a r c e l i n o , Z a m b a l e s BOKAY ALBAY
JANUARY 2023 THE WAY TO A PROGRESSIVE LIVING OF THE SMALL VILLAGE IN SAN RAFAEL 90 BANYUHAY
JANUARY 2023 he small village of Sitio Lawin is one of the resettlement areas in San Marcelino, Zambales for BANYUHAY 91 T the aeta community affected by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991. Farming serves as their bread and butter for many years and the upgrading of local roads is undoubtedly beneficial for them to cope with the aftereffects caused by the eruption. Most aetas are usually travelling to school by foot and have to pass through a dangerous road to get to school. Oftentimes, the reason why others are losing their open and dropping out of school is because of this situation. One of the successful projects under the FY 2022 Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Unit (LGSF-FALGU) Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Municipality is the “Upgrading of Local Access Road at Sitio Lawin, Barangay San Rafael'' with an allocation of Php 5,000,000.00. It helped stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty and make way for safer and faster transportation and trade of farm produce. Aside from the people of Barangay San Rafael, the residents from Barangay Aglao and Buhawen and all local commuters and tourists going to the eastern barangays of San Marcelino also benefit from this development because it decreases the travel time and provides better transportation for everyone. The upgraded local access road is a huge help for the workers of the solar company located in the area, for the students of Lawin Elementary School, and for the tourists going to the trending tourist spot in San Marcelino, the Banana Island and the Mapanuepe Lake or famously known as the New Zealand of San Marcelino because they don't have to deal with the bumpy, muddy and dangerous road especially during the rainy season. The citizens are grateful to the National Government through the DILG for this road development that improved the quality of life in Sitio Lawin and neighboring barangays of San Rafael. They are now enjoying the newly upgraded road and living a progressive life in harmony and peace.
JANUARY 2023 Isang karangalan po na pinagawa nila itong daan namin lalo na sa mga katutubong aeta, lalong lalo na sa pagtitinda, sa tag ulan hindi na po sila dumadaan sa bako-bako at ngayon po ay napakaganda ng aming daan. 92 BANYUHAY Nerissa Cunanan Resident
JANUARY 2023 BANYUHAY 93
FEBRUARY 2023 CULTIVATING THE SOIL FOR PROGRESS way to achieve economic growth and empower Arural communities, the Municipality of Iba is one step closer in reaching their goal. Living peacefully in a land rich in vegetables and rice crops and a place with a clean river to bathe are some of the things that the people in Sitio Marangla, Iba, Zambales are thankful for. On top of that, they are ecstatic and hopeful because the government provided the necessary support to advance their quality of life through paving their previously rough road with concrete. The 410 - meter concrete pavement, granted through F.Y. 2022 Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) with an allocation of Php 5,000,000.00 has already aided 599 beneficiaries. This road fit in with connecting roads going to University, Local Market and Health Centers, hence people were able to reach these establishments quickly. 94 BANYUHAY The freshly harvested vegetables such as string beans, eggplant and okra are now being delivered to the market without delay. Also, the quality of goods is maintained unlike before where the potholed road made an impact in damaging the harvests. According to the residents, some tourists have been coming to their area ever since the road condition was improved. The aeta community were able to earn a living as guides for the tourists who wanted to witness the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Tapulao. Indeed, providing roads to rural areas contributes significantly to achieving better quality of life. Through the LGSF-FALGU Program, residents of Sitio Marangla are thankful to the DILG for being a way to achieve their dreams.
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FEBRUARY 2023 96 BANYUHAY
FEBRUARY 2023 BANYUHAY 97 Gumanda na at naidadala na namin ang mga sasakyan namin dito, hindi katulad noong araw na hindi namin madala ang sasakyan namin puro rough road pa pero sa ngayon ay unti unti nang nadedevelop ang dinadaanan namin, hindi na kami gaanong hirap na maglabas ng kalakal namin. Elmer Elamparo Resident/Farmer
MARCH 2023 98 BANYUHAY SOLAR STREET LIGHTS FOR BRIGHTER TOMORROW OF PINAGREALAN VILLAGE
MARCH 2023 BANYUHAY 99 he town of Candelaria is a coastal municipality in the northern part of Zambales with a Tland area of 333.59 square kilometers or 128.80 square miles, making it the third-largest town in the province in terms of land area. It is known for its numerous beautiful beaches with white, fine sands and crystal-clear waters. The Municipality is also famous for Uacon Lake, the cleanest lake in Central Luzon. It also has a large scale of agricultural land. Candelaria is the home of “Laruk-Laruk” (rice crisps) festival.
MARCH 2023 100 BANYUHAY Candelaria is situated at the foot of Zambales mountains, hence there are remote villages with dangerous bumpy roads and dark areas, one of these is Barangay Pinagrealan. The houses in this village are located very far from one another and the transportation during nighttime is difficult and unsafe. With the help of the national government through the Department of the Interior and Local Government of Zambales, the citizens’ dream to have a sustainable light solution came into reality. The beneficial project entitled “Installation of Solar Street Lights with Post at Purok 1, Purok 2, Purok 3, and Purok 4 at Brgy. Pinagrealan” is funded under FY 2022 Local Government Support Fund - Financial Assistance to Local Government Unit Program with a total allocation of Php 5,000,000.00. This project is composed of 75 solar powered lighting units with 6 meters steel lamp poles. The solar powered street light system began operating on July 17, 2022. Since then, the people of Pinagrealan were comfortable leaving and going home at night. The parents also felt the security of their children who come home late from school because they know that the lights are enough to light the way to their houses. The business owners and farmers can now bring their products in the town proper anytime without worrying on the dark roads that they would traverse from the mountainous area of the barangay. The provision of emergency response is now faster. It was also observed that road accidents are now less because of the project. The budget allocation that used to pay the electricity bill of the barangay was already allocated to other expenditures that would directly benefit its constituents. The project indirectly contributes to alleviating people’s lives from poverty. It further prevents crimes and helps in sustaining peace and order and more development in the barangay. The residents are grateful to the national government for this project that helped improve their quality of life and contributed to a prosperous economy of Candelaria, Zambales.