Davao City –Some 16 leaders from the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives and five leaders from the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) were present at the recent consultation-workshop on KALAHI CIDSS- National Community Driven Development Program hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The event was able to provide a common understanding on the processes of Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), identify gaps that must be addressed to safeguard IP rights, and discuss KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP.

DSWD XI Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon in her message emphasized that the IP sector remains to be marginalized due to the difficulty of reaching out to them in the remotest upland areas.

However, she assured that the agency will continue to pour efforts to respond to the needs of the IPs. “DSWD will pursue identifying the needs of the IP. We will continue to empower them to be one of government’s partners in its initiatives in reducing poverty.”

Highlighting the consultation-workshop was the signing of the Manifesto of Support, a symbolic act wherein the IP leaders commit to help the government in implementing KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP in their respective areas.

Chief of Technical and Management Services of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Shiela Iguianon lauded DSWD for giving importance to the IP community.  “Thanks to DSWD for the opportunities extended to our IP communities through KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP.  Indeed, this is a huge step towards the empowerment of our IP brothers and sisters.”

In 2014, KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP targets 16 municipalities in Region XI namely; Maco, Monkayo, Nabunturan, Pantukan, New Bataan, Boston, Manay, Tarragona, Governor Generoso, San Isidro, Caraga, Cateel, Kapalong, New Corella, Malita, and Compostela.

KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP is the expansion into a national scale of operations of the community driven development (CDD) approach, which was tried and proven effective by Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS). DSWD