‘Kumpas Barangay’ offers ray of hope for coastal villagers in Albay

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571499072275/-kumpas-barangay-offers-ray-of-hope-for-coastal-villagers-in-albay
• Thursday, July 6, 2017

By Sally A. Atento (SAA/PIA5-Albay/EAD)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – “In my long years of stay in this village, it is only now that the president’s communication team has come to interact and listen to our concerns,”said senior citizen Napoleon Venus.

The senior citizens are one of the sectors represented during the “Kumpulan sa Barangay ni Presidente” or KumpaS Barangay conducted last Friday at barangay Puro in this city along with representatives from the fisherfolks, persons with disabilities (PWDs), education, market, homeowners and officials from the barangay council.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar led the face to face interaction with the villagers together with representatives from other government agencies to present government programs that would address their concerns and needs.

Andanar assured the villagers that the concerns raised by their community leaders will be relayed to President Duterte.

“We are here to bring the President’s message to the people, so in my simple way allow me to be your messenger to the President,” Andanar said.

Key concerns

Awarding of land for private ownership, increase in social benefits, faster implementation of projects, provision of livelihood assistance and capability enhancement opportunities were the key issues raised by the community leaders and representatives.

Barangay captain Nicasio Barrios Jr. noted the rekindled hope of his constituents to own the land where their homes stood.

“We have long been pushing to have our lands titled and awarded to us since the time of President Ramos. We have done all the processes needed but since it is a public land, it requires the proclamation of the president or the DENR secretary that our land is inalienable and disposable before they can be distributed for private ownership,” Barrios said.

Venus, who heads the Puro Barangay Association of Senior Citizens Affair, appealed for increased social benefits particularly the availment of “zero balance billing” and approval of one percent allocation for senior citizens from the annual barangay budget.

Maria Joy Adra Pinat, principal of Puro Elementary School, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the effort of the President to reach out especially to ordinary people in the provinces.

“Thank you Mr. President for reaching out to us who are in the provinces and barangays. We are calling for proper implementation of government projects such as the construction of school buildings in our barangay which has been delayed since last year,” she said.

“On the teachers’ collective concern, we are hoping for increase in our salary just like in other sectors,” she added.

To get themselves out of poverty by acquiring fishing equipment such as nets and boats was the aspiration of fisherfolks in Puro represented by Edgar Abion.

“Our fellow fisherfolks have somewhat lost their trust to the government since there are several agencies that promised livelihood assistance for us such as fishing nets and boats but up to now we haven’t received any of it. With our President we are hoping that it will be given to us,” Abion said.

Moreover, Rolando Apin of the PWD sector appealed for trainings to enhance their capabilities particularly on making crafts out of recycled products which could give them added source of income.

Kumpas Barangay is a catch phrase coined by the Presidential Communications Operations Office for its community outreach which gives President Duterte an ear for the feedback from village folks about the delivery of public services.