New Bataan adopts Kalahi-CIDSS community driven approach
New Bataan, Compostela Valley (DSWD XI) – “Babangon Tayo, New Bataan”, plastered in big, bold letters on the concrete fence approaching the municipal hall building, is the battle cry of the people of New Bataan after having been hit hardest in December 2012 by Tropical Storm Pablo. The onslaught of TS Pablo also known as Typhoon Bopha wreaked havoc, killed hundreds and destroyed countless homes here.
When Kalahi-CIDSS program started in the municipality in 2014, the municipality saw a silver lining after the massive devastation.
With the successful implementation of the program, the town scales up as it adopts the Kalahi-CIDSS Community Driven Development (CDD).
The Kalahi-CIDSS Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) transitioned with the integration of CDD approach in the Local Development Planning Process (LDPP), which heightened the roles of Local Government Unit as front liner in the implementation.
The local government now brings to the forefront the lessons and experiences from the Kalahi-CIDSS implementation as it takes the lead in the programs, projects and activities in the municipality and barangays using CDD.
According to New Bataan Municipal Mayor Geraldford M. Balbin, it took some time before they bounced back following the devastation of Typhoon Pablo.
As much as they wanted to immediately rehabilitate and build infrastructures, they knew they will be needing more allocation to address the most pressing needs of their municipality. After all, they are building back not only the infrastructures wrecked by the typhoon but also the hope and resilience of the community.
Adopting community driven development
“The municipal government has felt the need of the communities. Hence, the plan to have a Community Driven Development (CDD) ordinance was conceptualized after we’ve seen the impact of CDD, having completed the cycles of the program,” Mayor Balbin shared.
“We came up with the integration of CDD approach in the Local Development Planning Process (LDPP). There’s a bigger audience in the Barangay Development Council (BDC), there’s more participation not only from the community volunteers but also of the leaders. If they are more knowledgeable, they will have a voice to express in the government on what projects that address their most pressing need,” Atty. Mar Bianca Cualing – Brua, Municipal Councilor explained.
She added, her co-members in the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) now understand the concept of participative governance and this inspired them to come up with a municipal ordinance which came to be known as “An Ordinance Adopting the Kalahi-CIDSS Community-Driven Development (CDD) Approach in the Local Development Planning Processes in the Municipality of New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province”.
“CDD helps improve governance through widen community support through massive volunteerism and responds to the community’s specific needs. Community members are partners in the search for sustainable solutions to development challenges. It ensures community involvement in all stages of the projects from start to finish.”
The adoption of CDD reinforces the LGU roles, tasks, and responsibilities along Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the Millenium Development Goals (MDG), and the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan or “Ambisyon 2040”.
“The Local Government Unit (LGU) decided towards the path of replicating CDD because it is in the frontline of providing technical assistance and guidance to the implementing barangays,” Mayor Balbin said.
The adoption of CDD steps and processes in the local planning processes as practiced aims to increase level of community participation, improve local governance, and reduce poverty at the grassroots level.
“The role of the LGU is to facilitate the community in the process of CDD, and provide grant allocation and access to resources. The LGU helps communities carry out their plans in place to bring their desired sub-projects into fruition,” Beverly Jane B. Dela Peña, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer stressed.
She said they will go through the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum – Participatory Resource Allocation, to rank their proposed sub-projects for funding.
“Our budget for this CDD undertaking will be derived from our development fund worth Php 3 million,” Dela Peña said.
The barangay on the other hand should allocate 15% of development fund as its counterpart to make sure that these identified projects will be completed using CDD approach. This exemplifies the commitment of the group in making the project successful and enlivens the Bayanihan spirit of the community.
“If they cannot give that 15% cash, it can be attributed by let say in the form of services, utilization of barangay hall as venue, and other services they can share. We allow this to ensure their participation in the CDD process,” Dela Peña said.
Mayor Balbin added, the government needs to provide help that has a long-term effect on the community.
The CDD approach of Kalahi-CIDSS helped their municipality rise after the calamity, empowered the communities, and caused them to celebrate their newfound resilience.
“The municipality of New Bataan is an inspiration to other local governments to introduce innovative practices that adopt the CDD approach. The municipality’s initiative is a manifestation that the CDD approach is an effective way to address the needs of the community,” said DSWD XI Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.
Gains
Recently, New Bataan, Compostela Valley was recognized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the Best Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) Implementing Kalahi-CIDSS under the GAPAS awards during the DSWD XI 68th Anniversary Awarding Ceremony at Davao Convention and Trade Center.
The Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) recognizes DSWD partners for their invaluable support and contribution in the realization of the shared vision of empowering individuals, families, and communities.
To date, a total of 43 sub-projects have been implemented in the municipality with a Kalahi-CIDSS grant allocation worth Php 66,458,000.00.
Presently, the municipality of New Bataan is granted the Kalahi-CIDSS 4th call implementation with a grant allocation of Php 15,889,652.08. The grant is intended to fund unfunded projects in some barangays in well-performing municipalities.
Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the programs of DSWD that uses the Community Driven Development approach to empower local communities to undertake their own development projects by actively and directly partaking in local governance in identifying their community needs as well as taking part in implementing projects that will address these needs. (DSWD)