ALFONSO LISTA, IFUGAO – – In the national government’s overall plan to empower women and recognize their role in Philippine society, the accomplishment of Punong Barangay Alona Cadeliña of Barangay Dolowog during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has been described as proof that outstanding women leaders are still around in the countryside.
Punong Barangay Cadeliña led the barangay council in the distribution of relief assistance packs to residents of this underserved village of Alfonso Lista.
“Despite the limited resources of the barangay council, we are trying our best to help our constituents who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine,” she told the ZigZag Weekly.
Punong Barangay Cadeliña also acknowledged the rice assistance the barangay received from both the municipal and provincial governments. Along with a few kilos of rice, monggo (for the popular Ilocano “balatong” dish) and other vegetables were given to villagers.
Cadeliña said the relief program would somehow fill a gap amid the food crisis as Filipinos in alarming numbers are displaced by closure of business establishments.
She further sounded for more assistance and support from the government in the coming weeks.
The appeal for help was aired because of the alarming situation, “nothing more,” a resident warned.
Cadeliña also pointed out the need to use wisely food and cash assistance impoverished Filipinos are receiving from the government.
The five kilos or so of rice given to poor Dolowog folks (for a family of five) are likely to last for three days. How long do they have to wait before another one will come? Even officials of the barangay council don’t have an answer.
Sadly, Dolowog and many other barangays received a few crumbs. When asked if her village got noodles and canned sardines in the most recent relief assistance drive, Cadeliña replied in the negative.
In another case, villagers waited for canned corned beef, but the report was dismissed as “untrue.” Instead, they got “kalabasa” (squash) and “tuyo” (dried fish). Nonetheless, a resident expressed gratitude for the poor man’s favorite fish viand. “Tuyo” is unbelievably priced at Php 180 a kilo at the public market.
At this point, she says, well-meaning friends from the private sector are also welcome to donate food for the people through the barangay council.
She also expressed the hope that barangay council officials throughout the town would contain the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Up till then, all meager resources have been utilized too thinly by the Dolowog Barangay Council. In short, sources of funds have dried up. For instance, like most of the town’s barangays, the so-called “Quick Response Funds” or QRF of the Dolowog Barangay Council was quickly used in response to the people’s needs.
Allowing the further depletion of barangay council’s funds is simply unthinkable; that is detestable, to say the least.
Making resources available for economically disadvantaged barangays such as Dolowog by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in particular, should be prioritized considering the barangays’ growing importance in the nation’s socio-economic spheres of life.
Dolowog folks have suffered enough. Many just joined the swelling unemployment ranks. The coronavirus problem pushed up prices of basic goods and services albeit the pronouncement of a “price freeze” policy. With no known cure or vaccine, the disease almost always causes mobility, financial, health and social problems on affected individuals.
Congress should even endeavor to pass a law for the provision of at least one thermal scanner for each of the country’s more than 40,000 barangays.
Most of the villagers of Dolowog are poor. Alfonso Lista, a third-class municipality in the second geographical district of Ifugao, has 20 villages.
As a community with a diverse culture influenced by a good number of Ilocano settlers and migrants from Isabela province, residents of Dolowog try to make a living out of their corn fields. Rice and vegetables are also raised in the barangay. While modern living may have been embraced by a few middle-income earners of the barangay, the situation calls for mechanization of agriculture lands out here. Productivity is still low. The road network is far from satisfactory. Farmers face the enormous difficulty of transporting agriculture produce to the public market at Barangay Sta. Maria.
The barangay has a public elementary school as well as a day care center. The teachers there are overworked but underpaid.
“I am really thankful for the help extended by Governor Jerry Dalipog and President Rodrigo Duterte through the social amelioration program of the DSWD to our poor families,” said Cadeliña, the sole female village chieftain in Alfonso Lista.
A report reached this scribe that residents even got mad and raised their voices on her when a few watermelons were not given to them. “Said watermelons were to be given to the front liners,” Cadeliña explained. Obviously, these misbehaving folks gave more importance to small-sized watermelons than the rice. They valued Php30 watermelon more than Php135 rice. A case of shallow happiness or as they say, “ang babaw ng kaligayahan!”
With a report that some residents even cursed Cadeliña on the “watermelon” issue, villagers should be more careful in uttering words because she is honest and trustworthy.
All told, the whole gamut of human misery, in this manner, reminded many again, again and again that emotions are running high when there is a scarcity of food.
Her devotion to God and her faith are unshaken even in these difficult times.
“I’m happy to serve my people, even if there are some criticisms,” she said. Without a doubt, Punong Barangay Cadeliña really cares and understands the plight of the poor folks.
“My kagawads and the others in the barangay council really gave me a big lift and God guided me in performing my tasks,” she added.
Cadeliña and the other barangay council officials should be commended not condemned for their competencies and commitment.
Punong Barangay Cadeliña is widely acknowledged as a dedicated public servant. “She is honorable, responsible and sincere,” Sto. Domingo Punong Barangay Jovito Valenzuela said.
She has demonstrated remarkable and exemplary leadership in elevating the barangay council to greater heights, as attested to the fact that it is one of the most high-performing LGUs (local government units), even before the COVID-19 health crisis.
Many are saluting her passion and service that helped secure the foundations for a better future.
The presence of well-meaning and competent leaders in the barangay governments like Punong Barangay Cadeliña have also raised awareness and subsequently raise consciousness on women empowerment.
Punong Barangay Cadeliña and her kagawads (councilmen) have enormously assisted the troubled families unselfishly and unconditionally during these trying times. Many are now praying and hoping that this barangay and the Philippines get over the health crisis, developing more efficiencies in public service as set forth by the good deeds of Punong Barangay Cadeliña.
But what makes Punong Barangay Cadeliña a gem of a leader and what separates her from the rest is her ability to produce results and fulfill promises.
At present, Punong Barangay Cadeliña is a role model of public service and the cause of good governance.
She managed to carve a significant niche in the male-dominated Liga ng mga Barangay (Association of Barangay Captains) of Alfonso Lista. Cadeliña is the Liga’s secretary.
Is she noticeably different from the others at the Liga? Many think so. Today, she continues to give inspiration and instill confidence among the people. At meetings with barangay council officials, she always imparts a confidence-building message on the ideals of good government.
The noticeable difference occurs when punong barangays start to respond to challenges of the times in the most difficult circumstances.
The year 2020 more than ever, is not hard to forget because of the cancellation of parades and other activities related to Women’s Month celebration. The sacrifices of women front liners like Punong Barangay Cadeliña heightened the gloom in the threatened neighborhoods here.
This is why there is a need to develop a new mindset for barangay officials to stay on course, shun corruption and transform the barangay council as an engine of economic growth and inclusivity.
Her actions during the COVID-19 period will try to do just that- tell the story of heroic women who were there from the beginning of the crisis or were there at critical periods manning the front lines against an unseen enemy. By doing so, she gave a human face to overcoming heavy odds and inspired others to do their share. And, what is far more important, she is not alone. For sure, the entire nation would. **By Anthony A. Araos
