Kalahi-CIDSS Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) Focal Fidel U. Diaz and Municipal Area Coordinator for Kalahi-CIDSS Jean S. Bautista sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

 Malita, Davao Occidental – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the municipality of Malita recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Local Government Unit (LGU)-led implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) at Sto. Rosario Parish Seminar Hall.

Prior to signing, Fidel U. Diaz, Kalahi-CIDSS Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) Focal, oriented beneficiaries, municipal and barangay officials on the program and its underlying requirements.

Local chief executives and DSWD representatives confirmed their commitment to support Kalahi-CIDSS by signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The MOA Signing was followed with the Signing of the “Panaad sa Pagsuporta” (Manifesto of Support), signifying commitment of LGU officials, DSWD officers, and beneficiaries to work together.

Other municipalities that committed to implement this scheme are New Bataan, Malita, Caraga, and Cateel.

This procedure will also transition to LGU–led Community-Driven Development (CDD) implementation. This, after the municipalities have satisfactorily completed the two cycles of program implementation.

“It is the goal of the program to provide well performing Kalahi-CIDSS municipalities the grant intended to support their efforts in integrating CDD approaches and strategies in the Local Planning Processes to address poverty,” said DSWD XI Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.

“I am truly overwhelmed how Kalahi-CIDSS program enriches the lives of the Malitanos, I have seen the influence and effect of the program to communities. The community volunteers’ skills were enhanced through its capacity building activities,” shared Jean S. Bautista, Municipal Area Coordinator for Kalahi-CIDSS, as she conveyed the message in behalf of Mayor Bradly L. Bautista.

Bautista added that on the third cycle of the program, the community volunteers should embolden their volunteerism in the program. She noted that the values and lessons that they learned during the first and second cycles must be applied properly.

Presently, the municipality of Malita has completed 35 sub-projects in 30 barangays with a total grant allocation of P 40,000,000.00.

From 2014, Kalahi-CIDSS has completed 338 community sub-projects in 27 covered municipalities in Region XI.

Meanwhile, Kalahi-CIDSS has recently conducted an orientation on the institutionalization of Community-Driven Development – Local Planning Process (CDD-LPP) for cycle three implementation in identified municipalities in the region.

Attended by Local Chief Executives (LCEs), Vice Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan Representatives, and members of Municipal Inter Agency Committee (MIAC), the orientation aimed to assess the municipalities’ performance using the LGU Capacity Assessment Tool that measures good governance at the local level.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a community-driven development program of the Philippine Government aiming to empower people through sustainable development, enhanced participation in local governance, and management of poverty alleviation projects. (DSWD)