Separated by waterways and accessible only through small boats and a bamboo bridge, Barangay Consuelo in Macabebe, Pampanga is a quiet riverside community where daily life begins with crossing the water.
For residents, the bangka or boat is more than a means of transport as it is their bridge to work, school, and essential services.
Despite the distance and the challenges posed by geography, government assistance has reached the village through the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., bringing scholarship assistance to students and solar-powered street lights to the community.
Scholarship assistance
Barangay Captain Rolando Perez said the assistance has eased the burden on both families and the local government.
Perez said the scholarship component of the program has given families much-needed relief.
“Tuwang-tuwa ang mga magulang ng mga scholars dahil meron na silang mga panggastos, gagamitin nila sa pag-aaral. Malaking bagay sa mga magulang nila po ‘yan,” he stressed.
Perez said the support has enabled the barangay to address long-standing concerns while extending opportunities to its young residents.
One of them is Saina Samaniego, an incoming fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Studies at Pampanga Colleges.
Recounting her everyday struggles, she said that reaching school requires crossing the community’s long bamboo bridge or boarding a boat before taking another ride to campus—a journey made even more difficult during bad weather.
“Isa po sa challenges na nakaharap namin is pag may bagyo o umuulan. Kasi dahil coastal po kami, kailangan pa po naming maglakad sa long bridge o sumakay ng bangka. Tapos sasakay po kami ng tricycle papunta mismo sa school,” she said
Transportation delays often extend her travel time, adding to the financial burden on her family.
Receiving scholarship assistance, she said, has eased those concerns.
“Maraming salamat po dahil hindi niyo nakalimutan ang barangay namin kahit sobrang layo. Malaking tulong po ito lalo na po sa aming mga estudyante na nakuha bilang scholar. Ngayon pong incoming fourth year na kami, mas mapapadali na po ang pag-aaral namin at mababawasan na po ang mga pasanin ng magulang namin,” the scholar said.
Solar powered street lights
The remaining half of the aid, Perez shared, was programmed for the installation of solar-powered lighting across the barangay’s sitios, particularly in areas without access to conventional street lights.
“Lahat ng sitio namin dito nabigyan ko ng lahat ng solar. Kailangan po namin ilawan sa Delta kasi wala kaming streetlight. Kaya napag-isipan kong lagyan ng solar ‘yung poste, lahat ng poste,” he said.
Aside from making roads safer at night, the project has also reduced the barangay’s electricity expenses.
“Lalo na sa kuryente, mas pabor na hindi na kami nagbabayad ng kuryente. Dati-dati po nagbabayad kami ng kuryente sa ilaw, ngayon malaking bagay na hindi na kami nagbabayad ng kuryente,” the barangay captain said.
With this, he expressed his thanks to the President and the national government.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay President Bongbong Marcos sa tulong na ibinigay nila sa aming barangay. Malaking tulong ito sa aming mga scholars at para makumpleto ang aming solar lighting project,” Perez added.
For the residents of Barangay Consuelo, the program represents more than financial support and infrastructure improvements.
For them, it demonstrates that even geographically isolated communities can benefit from government programs designed to improve access to education and basic services.
In a community where every journey begins with crossing the river, opportunities are now becoming more accessible—helping students pursue their education while improving the safety and daily lives of residents. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
