Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers share how the project has helped them recover from the catastrophe brought about by ‘Pablo’.

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley — Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers have urged government to strengthen the implementation of the project so they can recover after suffering from Typhoon Pablo.

Cornelia A. Gayo, 46 and Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee bookkeeper of Barangay Banlag, said the project has become an important element for the progress of the community.

Gayo pointed out that Kalahi-CIDSS is necessary in extending assistance especially that most of the people in the municipality were heavily affected by Typhoon Pablo.

Kalahi-CIDSS or Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services is a community-driven development (CDD) project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that aims to empower communities through their enhanced participation in local governance and poverty alleviation projects.

Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer Leobengildo Agcol Jr, 39, of Barangay Banlag said the project is necessary in the rehabilitation efforts.

“Human sa nahitabong kalamidad mga lima na ka bulan ang nilabay, hinay-hinay nami og balik sa pagpananum sama sa ube, mais ug mga lagutmon. Apan dili pa kaayo hingpit nga nakarecober (Five months after the calamity, we are slowly going back to planting purple yams, corn and other root crops. But we have not fully recovered),” Agcol added.

“Mao pa’y pagsugod sa among pagpananom (Only recently have we started planting again),” volunteer Milagros Gogo said, pointing out that farmers have also been calling for groups to allow them to borrow capital so they can start all over again.

Some of those in the barangays, she added, decided to join the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan, a program of SM Foundation, so they could be provided with seeds for their farms.

“Kinahanglan pa og dugang suporta sa pagtuki sa mga yanong tao aron sila matabangan gyud sa tinud-anay nga panginahanglan (We still need additional support from the government in identifying the needs of the masses and in addressing them),” Pedro I. Bolonos, another Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer of Barangay Olaycon, said.

More assistance are needed by the residents, so stopping the Kalahi-CIDSS as government-initiated project is impractical, Balonos added.

“Diri sa amoa karon, mga 50% ang nagasalig pa sa tabang sa gobyerno tungod kay wala pa kaharvest ang mga tao sa ilang mga tanom (50% of the people here in our barangay are still dependent on government aid because we have not yet harvested our crops),” Bolonos said.

The municipality of Monkayo is a recipient of the Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA project. 18 of the 20 barangays have proposed core shelter assistance for the victims of ‘Pablo’. Other prioritized projects are potable water system and a school building. DSWD