The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its field office in Calabarzon (Field Office IV-A), conducted a Municipal Orientation in Buenavista, Quezon last September 11, 2014 for the implementation of the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP) in the locality.

The Municipal Orientation is the first step in the Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP implementation cycle.  The activity aims to re-orient the local government including the barangay officials and the civil society organizations on the program principles and approaches.  An emphasis will be given on the improvements in the implementation process and the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, which are all indicated in the memorandum of agreement that is expected to be signed by the DSWD and the local government of Buenavista during the orientation.

As one of the KC-NCDDP areas, the Municipality of Buenavista will be implementing the 8^th Kalahi-CIDSS program implementation cycle (3 cycles during the Kalahi-CIDSS regular implementation, 1 under Kalahi-CIDSS Makamasang Tugon and 3 under Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA).  A total of 70 Kalahi-CIDSS community subprojects had been completed in the locality.  These subprojects include farm to market roads, day care centers, electricity and water systems with a total project cost of Php19M including local counterpart.

During the one day orientation, a number of the completed subprojects were also visited to highlight the gains of the program in the locality.

The KC-NCDDP is one of the poverty reduction programs of DSWD that uses the community driven development approach in implementing projects that aim to provide the community easier access to basic services.   It is the expanded implementation of the previous program Kalahi-CIDSS.  Aside from identified poor communities / municipalities, the program now also covers areas affected by Typhoons Yolanda and Glenda.  This enables the communities and the local government units in the said areas to implement disaster responsive or preventive projects that may include fast rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructures and livelihoods projects.

Aside from Buenavista, there are 20 other Kalahi NCDDP areas in the Calabarzon region.  These are the Municipalities of Calauag, Candelaria, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Mauban, San Francisco, Sariaya, Plaridel, Tagkawayan, Agdangan, Alabat, Burdeos, Perez, Quezon, San Antonio, Unisan, Catanauan, Macalelon, Gen Luna and San Andres.  These municipalities are all n Quezon Province.***