Community volunteers, barangay officials and local organizations in the 615 barangays implementing the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program in Quezon Province are currently undergoing performance assessment in the program implementation in their respective areas. This is through a Barangay Accountability Reporting, which is led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The said activity is the final stage in the Kalahi-CIDSS cycle implementation wherein local residents review and evaluate their compliance with their pledged agreements for the program, from sub-project identification to the construction of the infrastructure. The activity includes discussions on the performance of community volunteers in the implementation, counterpart contribution of the barangay local government unit (LGU), and actions taken by assigned local organizations for the sustainability of the project.

In Brgy. Silangang Calutan in Agdangan, Quezon that conducted the Barangay Accountability Reporting last August 19, the community volunteers shared their satisfaction with everybody’s contribution in the completion of their project—the improvement of their barangay road with line canal and pipe culverts that costs PhP862,216.

Nicanor Llagas, a volunteer from the said barangay, shared that it is in this activity that they also see how they can better improve their project.

“Marami kaming natirang graba at panambak, kaya napagdesisyunan naming gamitin ito para pantayin ang ibang parte ng daan,” Llagas shared.

Further, the activity also serves as a venue for the residents to share their experiences and learning along the process and provide recommendations for an enhanced implementation in case they will continue with another program cycle.

“Hindi lang dapat tayo umaasa sa mga tulong ng gobyerno. Dapat ay tumutulong din tayo sa kanila para mapatupad nang maayos ang mga proyekto at masiguro na maraming makikinabang nito sa ating komunidad,” said Hermogina Malong during their Barangay Accountability Reporting in Brgy. Kanlurang Calutan, Agdangan.

Malong is one of the community volunteers in the said barangay who helped in the repair of their barangay road.

The Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty reduction program of the DSWD that engages local people in the identification, planning and implementation of community projects that will best respond to their needs. This process also enables local residents to build stronger ties with their LGUs for a more collaborative decision-making on development plans and projects for their community.

This year, the Kalahi-CIDSS is implemented in 20 municipalities in Quezon Province with 629 sub-projects that are targeted to be completed from August to December 2015.

Thirteen municipalities including Agdangan, Alabat, Buenavista, Burdeos, Perez, Quezon, San Antonio, Unisan, Tagkawayan, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon and San Andres will continue another cycle of implementation to cater other prioritized needs of their respective communities.#