Catbalogan City – In partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Catbalogan City and the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Samar State University spearheaded a barangay development planning workshop for the upland barangays at Maqueda Bay Hotel, February 17-22, 2018, and for the sierra barangays in Brgy. Rama, February 18-23, simultaneously with a day difference.
“This workshop will be the fourth and fifth waves, respectively, of workshops after the first wave in 2015 with seven identified poblacion and carline barangays, and second and third for the barangays at Buri Island and the remaining carline barangays, respectively,” Mr. Dennis Cosmod said being the Chief of Staff of the city.
He also stated that the formulation of comprehensive barangay development plans is in accordance with the present administration’s policy of inclusive and participative governance, which considers every stakeholder of the city as partner and potent contributor in every development process.
According to the majority of the participants, their priority as of now is the road construction in their respective barangays.
“An amon gud karuyag ma-solusyonan nga problema didi amon barangay an pagkamay-ada hin kalsada kay ginkukurian kami pagpalit hin mga produkto tikang ha siyudad sugad hin pagpalit kopras, diri gad unta mahal pero nagiging mahal na la kay tungod masuhol pa man kami (What we want to solve is the road construction in our barangay because we find it difficult to buy products from the city, like when we want to buy copra, it becomes costly because we still need to pay certain wages),” Mr. Rosito Rambala, a councilor of Brgy. Lobo, said.
A youth representative from Brgy. Palanyogon shared that they need to walk for two hours just to travel from their barangay to Catbalogan.
“It is the very reason why this workshop was held, for them to be aware what their barangay needs and to mobilize them to make an action,” Mr. Cosmod stated.