Metamorphosis_Kalahi-CIDSS Compendium 2015

“
Potable water was brought near our houses unlike before
wherein we have to go down with our pails to fetch water.
”
_Marcelo Catriz, Project Beneficiary
people. “During the start of the project, people did not believe that [the program] would
bring development to the community” she said.
With only few people believing and volunteering for the construction of the water system
and the drainage culvert, they were able to pull it off.
“Now that the projects were completed and fully operational, 80% of the community
appreciated it and now are excited to propose a project again. “People began to realize that
volunteerism is the most important thing in a project,” Manang Lumen said in delight.
These achievements seem to be very ordinary but for the people of Patoc, it is only after the
completion of the project that they got to experience travelling in and out of their village on
wheels without manually pulling or pushing their motorcycles, tricycle or jeepneys across
the 15 meter wide Patoc River.
Marcelo Catriz, 56, one of the beneficiaries who experienced firsthand crossing through the
drainage culvert said that the drainage culvert brought a big change in their community.
“Before, crossing the Patoc River was terribly difficult. The community usually crosses it on
foot,” he said in vernacular.
“Our economic activities here improved so it is faster and easier to trade our products now.
Before, we transport our rice for trading by letting buffalos drag it. Now we can use vehicles
to transport it,”Catriz added.
Catriz was also nostalgic when he talked about the water system which has a functioning
tank and faucet. “Potable water was brought near our houses unlike before wherein we have
to go down with our pails to fetch water,” he said.
Since its establishment, the community has one common manual pump which is located
just 25 meters before the entrance to the community.
Manang Lumen considers the bridge and the water system as a stepping stone in restoring
the greatness of Patoc. She dreams that Patoc will continue to gear towards development.//
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