Davao City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community Driven Development Program) will conduct the 1^st Regional ‘Bayani Ka’ Awards on Monday, December 8, at Grand Men Seng Hotel.

The Awards intends to acknowledge the hard work of the local, everyday heroes who put their own communities before their own selves.

“The volunteers of KALAHI CIDSS are our new generation of champions who will help us in our advocacy of making community-driven development (CDD) a reality,” said DSWD Director Priscilla N. Razon.

The winners of will serve as spokespersons of the program in their respective arenas.

“The Awards will not impose age, gender, and ethnicity restrictions, since the program adheres to the social inclusion principle. The awardees must be based in a KALAHI CIDSS area, must have a good character, must not be involved in activities that will result in conflict of interest with KALAHI CIDSS, and his/her community should have implemented the program  for at least one cycle.” Director Razon explained.

Volunteer-nominees must also possess the following qualities/characteristics: (1)Bayani -Exemplifies the bayanihan spirit by willingness to help people and the community, particularly toward welfare and development; (2) Abilidad/Ability -Work done in KALAHI-CIDSS has contributed to improving the community; (3) Yakag /Persuasion -Eloquence and ability to persuade the people to take part in community activities through KALAHI-CIDSS; (4) Asal -The nominee walks the talk, demonstrates participation, transparency, and accountability; (5) Nais -The nominee shows strong motivation to help the community; and (6) Inspirasyon – Serves as a role model within the community.

The Bayani  Ka Awards is a social marketing initiative of KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP which seeks not only to recognize the exemplary work done by program supporters but also to develop a pool of champions to help in promoting the program.

“We will award community volunteers, and local government units that are champions in Volunteerism, Improved Local Governance, Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare, and Gender,” Razon added.

According to KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP Regional Deputy Project Manager Ma. Annabelle S. Jabla, special awards will also be given.

“The Office will also award the best person with disability (PWD) volunteer, best senior citizen volunteer, best indigenous peoples volunteer, and best in participatory governance for MLGU.”

The regional winners will receive plaque of recognition and their profiles will be sent to DSWD National Office for the Bayani Ka National Awarding in 2015.

“Our volunteers from KALAHI CIDSS targeted areas, Local Government Units and Civil Society Organizations will also join us on this memorable event,” Jabla said.

KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP is the expansion program 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