By Lou Ellen Antonio

KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--Residents of Barangay Sta. Cruz will soon benefit from the 16 solar street lights that will be built in their community through the help of the Additional Financing of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with counterpart from the barangay, provincial and municipal governments. 

Barangay chairperson Lucita Manlaran said that they will give value to the 16 solar streetlights that will be installed in their barangay. She also thanked DSWD, LGU Kapatagan and the provincial government for the support.  

“Amo kini ampingan nga kini modonar ug dugay pang panahon ug makahimo kami ug maintenance sa mao nga project,” she said. 

[We will take care of this project for it to last for a long time and we plan to do maintenance on that project.]

Meanwhile, Juanita E. Mejellano, of Barangay Development Council said the children and parents will no longer fear going out at night with the installation of solar street lights. 

“Kani na project dako na tabang namo nga lumulupyo, labi na sa panahon namo karon uso ang kawat. Dili nami mahadlok maglakaw kung magabin-an mi kay among dalan hayag na jud sya,” she said. 

[This project is a big help for the residents to prevent theft. We are no longer afraid to walk at night because our community will be lit up," she said.

Mejellano, who is also a KALAHI CIDSS volunteer, said that when there are power interruptions at night, there will still be light since the street lights are solar-powered. 

Barangay Sta. Cruz is just one of the 22 barangays in Kapatagan town that will benefit from various community projects implemented through KALAHI CIDSS. (LELA/PIA-10-Lanao del Norte)