If community planning had a motto, Barangay Wari-Wari would have casually written it on the board that day: “Let’s fix it while we’re here.” No grandstanding, no rushing—just people reading, questioning, and improving their own work during the Strategic Plan Refinement Workshop held on January 6, 2026.

The Barangay Hall buzzed with energy as 21 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) gathered alongside Punong Barangay James Sunganob, who set the tone early on with a reminder that drew knowing nods from the room.

“Ang plano dapat klaro, kag wala sing may ginhalinan nga mabayaan,” he said, stressing that plans should leave no purok and no sector behind.

When a Word Change Means a Brighter Night

One of the first discussions sounded simple—almost technical. The strategic plan mentioned the installation of electric posts. A CSO representative quietly raised a hand and shared an anecdote that shifted the room.

“May poste kami, pero madulom gyapon kon gab-i,” she said, recalling how children still hurry home before sunset because the streets remain dark.

That was when Punong Barangay Sunganob stepped in and clarified,

“Streetlights ang kinahanglan naton, indi lang poste. Kag dapat tanan nga purok, upod gid ang BLISS area.”

A single correction—electric posts to streetlights—suddenly became a commitment to safety, inclusion, and visibility for all.

From 4G to 4S: Accuracy Saves Lives

Laughter briefly filled the room when the ecological entry “4G para sa Dengue” was read aloud. One CSO member joked,

“Abi ko signal na ini sang cellphone.”

The humor opened the door to an important correction. The group agreed to revise it to “4S para sa Dengue,” aligning it with the nationally recognized dengue prevention strategy.

“Kon health na ang istoryahan, indi pwede sayop,” one participant emphasized. Everyone nodded—some things simply cannot afford errors.

Skills That Move People—Literally

Under the human development section, a CSO leader shared a story about a young father in the barangay who lost job opportunities simply because he couldn’t drive.

“May trabaho na tani, pero wala lisensya. Sayang guid,” she said.

This sparked the proposal to include driving skills training in the strategic plan. The room quickly agreed that development is not only about projects—it’s about practical skills that open doors.

“Indi Lang Zone 4 ang Nabaho-an”

When the discussion reached drainage canals, someone from the back of the room spoke up:

“Indi lang sa Zone 4 ang problema. Sa Zone 6 man, permi nagabaha kon ulan.”

What could have turned into debate instead became documentation. The concern was officially corrected in the plan, proving that honest sharing beats polite silence.

Water Worries, Finally Answered

Perhaps the most reassuring moment came when the topic of the water system resurfaced. After years of being listed as a “concern,” Punong Barangay Sunganob clarified,

“May pondo na para sa water system rehabilitation. Follow-up kag proseso na lang ini.”

A quiet sigh of relief spread across the room—proof that planning is not just about dreaming, but also about tracking what’s already in motion.

More Than a Workshop

By day’s end, all Projects, Programs, and Activities (PPAs) were validated, not because everyone agreed immediately, but because everyone was willing to listen and adjust. The next step—the Adaptation Workshop on January 20, 2026, at 8:00 AM at the Barangay Hall—was announced with renewed excitement.

What made the workshop memorable was not the revisions themselves, but the stories behind them. Plans were corrected because people spoke up. Details were refined because someone cared enough to notice.

As one CSO participant summed it up perfectly:

“Kon kita mismo ang maghimo sang plano, kita man ang dapat mag-usisa sini.”

Barangay Wari-Wari showed that transparency sounds like conversation, accountability looks like corrections, and good governance often begins with a simple, courageous sentence: “Pwede pa ni naton makay-o.”