PIAGAPO, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Punong barangays of four remote villages here are thankful to the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) for continuously assisting their communities to recover from the impacts of armed conflict and pandemic.

The CFSI handed over on Thursday, Sept. 22, community infrastructure projects to Barangays Basak, Bansayan, Kalungunan, and Tapucan to support the livelihood activities of its residents.

The community-based support to livelihood (CBSL) projects included a multi-purpose center for Barangay Basak and tire paths for Barangays Bansayan, Kalungunan, and Tapucan.

Bansayan Punong Barangay Bolkia Umpar conveyed his thanks to CFSI for the construction of the 199 linear meters tire path that will help in the easy and convenient transport of their farm outputs to markets. "Sanggibo salamat (a thousand thanks)," he said.

Salahoden AbdulJabar of Kalungunan also expressed his gratitude to CFSI for the 245 linear meters tire path constructed in his village. He said the project benefits Kalungunan residents as it will help get their products to market faster and going to schools will not be difficult for children.

Tapucan Punong Barangay Mansawi Guiling is not only thankful to CFSI  for the newly-built, 243 linear meters tire path in his village but also grateful to the municipal government of Piagapo for endorsing Tapucan as a top priority for community interventions.

Guiling committed that the barangay will do its best to maintain and even extend the tire path.

On the part of the municipal government, Mayor Ali Sumandar said he appreciated the efforts of CFSI in pouring aid to his town. "We are very much happy na may mga NGO na ganito na tumutulong sa mga less fortunate na municipality," he said.

[We are very much happy that there are NGOs like this that are helping less fortunate municipalities.]

Sumandar also urged his benefitting constituents to take good care of the projects citing the intervention of CFSI as a big opportunity for them to enhance the quality of their lives.

"Hindi lahat ng munisipyo ay binibigyan ng ganitong tulong that is why dapat alagaan nila kung ano man ang naibigay na tulong sa kanila kasi napakalaking opportunity ito dahil Piagapo is a fourth-class municipality, so hindi namin kayang gampanan lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan," he said.

[Not all municipalities are given this kind of support which is why they should take care of whatever help they received because this is a huge opportunity as Piagapo is a fourth-class municipality so we cannot fulfill all their needs.]

The CBSL projects were implemented under the Marawi COVID Recovery Project (MCRP) which aims to promote the protection, psychosocial, and economic recovery of at least 4,000 families or 20,000 individuals from the impact of armed conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MCRP is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)