If done well, who will benefit from BDP? How?

We can quickly point you to the people of the barrio. No doubt, they will. But an informed scenario building suggests that even stakeholders outside the jurisdiction of the Sangguniang Barangay could feel the spillover effect. They could have their share of the outcomes assuming BDP is implemented accordingly and adjustments are made on time. Let us break it down for you.

One, over 5,300 residents or 1,520 families of Katiku stand to benefit. (Refer to the demographic infographics below.) Done right, all sector projects, accompanied by a transparent and accountable management of public finance will have tangible and lasting impacts on the population. Improved health services, marked by a barangay health station with stable supply of medicine, adequate equipment and a pool of health workers, nurse, midwife and nutrition scholar, can better address common ailments, malnutrition and food supplementation issues, vaccination and birthing needs. Although budget for social affairs needs further increase, the tandem of the barangay council and municipal social welfare and development office is always ready to serve over 610 senior citizens, people with disability, women with domestic and livelihood concerns and children with a range of developmental support needs. Meanwhile, the youth can now have better access to skills training and drug prevention programs while the dynamic Sangguniang Kabataan is pursuing sports tournaments, sports clinic and productive cultural activities.

Two, it's the neighboring communities. Let's consider their potential gains from agriculture and infrastructure projects. The costly but necessary investments in farm-to-market roads including the Sumilalao, Katiku-Sinakulay and Katiku-Tinaungan roads can smooth and accelerate the conveyance of goods and services across barangay borders while easing the travel time of farmers and for farm machinery. Another worth-noting project that we're optimistic it could benefit our neighbors is the SM Katiku. This public market is our flagship project for it entails significant infusion of our barangay development fund (BDF) given the anticipated fiscal, economic and social benefits. Imagine this: freshwater products (a variety of organically grown fish) from lake Buluan and the tributaries of Liguasan marsh, live cattle (goat), free range chicken, sumptuous Moro delicacies like bulua and tinagtag, and the multi-color mats and malong from Buluan, SK Pendatun and Badac are being sold during the market day, which then attract buyers from Katiku and the rest of Pres. Qurino. There's much more to expect but what this means is many: people don't need to travel to the city; they can save time and money from not doing so because they get these fresh produces at a very reasonable price in just a few minutes’ walk to our SM! The larger impact? Our economic interdependence is enhanced while furthering peacebuilding and collaboration among our neighbors. Not only will it generate additional revenue for the barangay, but it will also encourage our neighbors to sell directly their farm produce here with low rental fee.

Three, other barangay councils hopefully could reference the Katiku BDP when they formulate their own BDP. Not all barangays in Pres. Quirino, and by extension other municipalities in the province operate with BDP. Others do but theirs also need updating and must veer away from unprocessed socio-economic data that could have informed their priority projects. The main message here is simple: barangays can do their own BDP. They can proudly claim they have one by taking proper guidance, mobilizing their own professionals and sector representatives as part of their BDC, and by learning from Katiku officials about the joy and pain of putting the BDP into action. The Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) can be a good forum to facilitate mutual learning on development strategy and tactics. The municipal offices, from planning and development to agriculture, social welfare to the interior and local government, and treasury to police, are in strategic positions to assist other barangays in charting their own development pathway.

Four, the products of good performance could benefit current officials. It could help them boost their chances of being re-elected if they so decide or propel them to run for higher seats should they wish to take that route. We know many people still vote based on traditional practices and sometimes, defeatist reasoning: patronage, utang na loob, kamag-anak system, sya lang kilala ko logic, or even vote-buying. We don't rule these out as part of the voting equation. However, we hope (yes, hope, not set in stone) that people will remember them based on good performance. We hope people will use performance or merits, not padrino and empty promises, as their objective basis to choosing their leaders. That said, elected leaders must do their work seriously as the implementation of their share in BDP is their golden opportunity to show that they deserve another win next time. People will notice if they deliver or not.