Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte (DSWD XI) –Eleven municipalities in Davao Region recently held municipal orientation for the third cycle of implementation of Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).
The 11 towns which started the program in 2015 are Braulio E. Dujali, Baganga, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Kiblawan, Lupon, Malalag, Montevista, San Isidro of Davao del Norte, Sta. Maria, and Saranggani.
The orientation serves as a forum through which local officials, as well as representatives of other government and non-government organizations in the locality, are provided overview of Kalahi-CIDSS and its accomplishments.
Present during the Municipal Orientation were municipal mayors, local officials, community volunteers, and Kalahi-CIDSS municipal and Area Coordinating Teams.
“The municipal orientation is a critical part of each cycle because it generates awareness and acceptance of the locals’ adoption of the program and provides an open forum where the technical and administrative requirements in the implementation of the project are agreed upon by the local chief executives together with the sectoral and community representatives,” said DSWD XI Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.
Bracing communities
During the first and second cycles, Braulio E. Dujali communities have constructed 10 sub-projects such as community access roads, school buildings, and hanging cable footbridge in five barangays with a total cash grant worth Php 12, 937, 550.
“Communities are given the opportunity to implement their sub-project from monitoring of construction, disbursement of fund from the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee, recording of transaction in the cashbook and in-kind journals, procurement of materials, contracting and hiring of laborers,” explained Melfar C. Aguiluz, Sangguniang Bayan chairperson.
Atty. Leah Marie Moral-Romano, Braulio E. Dujali Municipal Mayor, expressed her willingness to continuously support KALAHI-CIDSS and encouraged other stakeholders to do the same.
“I encourage communities here to strengthen their support in the program because I can see the real transformation of ordinary citizens becoming resource persons and have mustered confidence in them. People are aware and understand the right to participate in and decide on matters affecting their welfare. They attend meetings, planning workshops, community assemblies which led to their understanding how plans and projects are made and how these are implemented.”
She added, Kalahi-CIDSS program instill value formation among barangay folks, they become open to render volunteer work whenever necessary and when funds are not sufficient. Capacities of ordinary citizens to plan for their own development are enhanced and safeguards are put in place so that resources are not wasted or lost.
“Niadtong 2015, nagsugod mi og pag awhag sa mga katawhan, pero dili musuporta ang mga tao kay matud pa nila wala silay madawat nga sweldo gikan niining programaha. Kung tinuod lamang ang imong pag serbisyo, dili nimo huna- hunaon kung naa ba kay madawat nga sweldo, kay ang importante nga makatabang ka para sa kalambuan sa imong komunidad (In 2015, we started to mobilize the people, but they won’t support the program since they will not receive any monetary remuneration. I explained to them that genuine service is not after monetary rewards but is focused on helping develop your community),” recounted Thelma Eliseo-Villagracia, national winner of Kalahi-CIDSS Bayani Ka! Awards under Gender and Development category.
The 11 implementing municipalities will get a total of Php 173,980,750.00 to fund prioritized community sub-projects. (DSWD)