Towards shaping resilient communities. Kalahi-CIDSS National Program Manager Benilda Redaja expresses gratitude to the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Quezon Province for their support to the Kalahi-CIDSS implementation in their respective municipalities during a DSWD-led Mayors’ Forum held last June 25-26 in Quezon City. According to her, the LGUs have promoted well the community-driven principle of the program which has empowered the communities to work their way towards development. She also challenged the LGUs to continuously help shape responsible community members in the municipalities.

____________________________________

QUEZON LGUS INTENSIFY SUPPORT TO FINAL STAGES OF KALAHI-CIDSS

The Local Government Units (LGUs) of the 22 municipalities in Quezon Province implementing the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) commit to further intensify their support to the final implementation stages of the program during the Mayors’ Forum conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IV-A last June 25-26, 2015 in Quezon City.

The said forum was attended by the Local Chief Executives, Municipal Engineers, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators, and selected Kalahi-CIDSS field staff from the municipalities of Calauag, Candelaria, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Mauban, San Francisco, Plaridel, Tagkawayan, Agdangan, Alabat, Buenavista, Burdeos, Perez, Quezon, San Antonio, Unisan, Catanauan, Macalelon, General Luna, San Andres, Mulanay and San Narciso.

During the forum, the LGUs discussed strategies and developed work plans that would further assist community volunteers in implementing their proposed infrastructure sub-projects. Among their plans are the continuous technical assistance to community volunteers through the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee (MIAC) and the provision of construction equipment and supplies to communities for free.

Further, the LGUs created a timeline for the remaining Kalahi-CIDSS activities to monitor and ensure that all will be completed before the end of the first program cycle by September. The LGUs of Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay and San Narciso, on the other hand, have developed their work plans for the last cycle last cycle implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), which will be finished by December.

Of the 20 municipalities implementing the regular Kalahi-CIDSS program, seven will be finishing the cycle implementation by September 2015. These municipalities – Calauag, Candelaria, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Mauban, San Francisco, and Plaridel – are categorized as non-poor and Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas.

The 12 other municipalities, identified as poor and Typhoon Yolanda-affected, will be implementing the Kalahi-CIDSS program for three cycles until 2017.

Acknowledging the LGUs’ support

Director Benilda Redaja, Kalahi-CIDSS National Program Manager and guest speaker for the said forum, acknowledged the LGUs’ support and initiatives for the program.

“Dahil sa inyong suporta, madaling tinatanggap ng communities ang programa. Kami ay nagpapasalamat dahil patuloy kayong nakikipag-kapit bisig sa pagbuo ng maunlad at empowered na pamayanan,” Dir. Redaja said.

She also committed that the DSWD will provide incentives to lead implementing municipalities through additional Kalahi-CIDSS cycle to continuously improve the delivery of social services in poor communities.

“Ang magandang performance ng isang bayan ay patunay lamang na ang mamamayan nito ay na-empower at kayang-kaya nang mag-plano at magsagawa ng mga proyekto para sa kanilang barangay,” she added.

Following the CDD approach

During the forum, a number of LGUs have showed interest in adopting the community-driven development (CDD) strategy in their local projects.

Candelaria Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Roberto Dizon in particular shared that they would start practicing the CDD strategy by implementing another set of sub-projects using the savings from the Kalahi-CIDSS implementation.

“Balak naming magpatawag ng special MIBF (Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum) para mapag-usapan kasama ang mamamayan kung anong mga proyekto pa ang pwede naming gawin sa natitirang pera. Gagawin namin ito ayon sa style ng Kalahi-CIDSS,” he said.

The Kalahi-CIDSS is a DSWD poverty alleviation program that aims to improve the delivery of social services in poor communities using the CDD approach. Last June 2014, it has expanded its coverage by including not just the poorest but also the Typhoon Yolanda-affected municipalities to assist in the fast rehabilitation of infrastructures and livelihoods in affected communities. #