A two-and-a-half-day technical session attended by DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA IP-CDD workers have set the organization in motion to hit operational goals this year.

Seven Area Coordinating Teams (ACTs) together with higher ups from the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) convened for a technical session to address the issues and concerns affecting the ACTs’ efficiency and performance. The RPMO is targeting a 100% completion for all ongoing and ‘to be implemented’ sub-projects (SPs) this year.

The KALAHI-CIDSS Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Indigenous People Community-Driven Development (IP-CDD) delivers sub-projects or small-scale infrastructures to communities with Indigenous Peoples (IPs), facilitating socio-economic development and peace promotion to conflict-affected and vulnerable areas.

ACTs under the program follow a stringent timeline in facilitating the completion of sub-projects, putting a great deal of pressure among workers to hit financial and engineering targets, alongside leading community empowerment activities.

“ACTs need to ensure the quality of RFRs (Request for Fund Release) submitted to the RPMO,” said Ms Genevie Adem, Supervising Administrative Officer (Finance). Starting this year, RFRs will now be regionally managed, expecting a faster and more efficient downloading of community grants. ACTs are directed to be more keen in preparing all documentary requirements to fast-track RFR approvals.

From time to time, ACTs are reminded to be strategic in its negotiations especially in the procurement process to ensure timely sub-project implementation.

“We need to be ahead in our financial and physical completion, three months at least, so we can take time to document our best practices and write our success stories,” said Engineer Abobacar Tocalo, Project Development Officer IV

The RPMO also announced that it will resume its monthly ranking system for ACTs and the giving of incentives as a strategy to spur better team performance.

Spillover sub-projects in 2021 have a target completion by the second week of April this year. The program has 20 ongoing SPs with an additional 11 SPs in new areas to be implemented and completed within the year.

Top SPs funded include Tribal Halls, Pre and Post-Harvest facilities, Livelihood Centers, and Access Roads. Being community-driven, the sub-projects are locally defined and community-led, responding to their most pressing needs.

PAMANA IP-CDD is serving Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) within Region 10 belonging to tribes of the Manobo-Matigsalug, Higaunon, and Subanen.

Perlita Cahatol and her family of seven were coping with the demands of living in Cagayan de Oro City until they were challenged with bigger trials starting with her husband’s accident. This incident forced the family to migrate to Kibawe, Bukidnon in hopes to have a better quality of life. The house they built were made of upcycled materials which is not protective against weatherly elements as they now depend on their income as farmers.

Life is hard enough as it is but Perlita finds herself pregnant with their sixth child. The birth of the baby was also the day her husband got into another accident that left him permanently disabled from walking again. It was dark times for the family in coping with her husband’s accident that Perlita thought of giving up the baby for adoption. With her husband’s consent, the baby was turned over to a family who can best provide the developmental needs of the child. A hard decision to make but it was for the best interest for the child that Perlita wants for her baby. She sets her focus on caring for his now-PWD husband and growing children who are also in need of her. Through fervent prayers for mercy that Perlita finds comfort to allay her worries and guilt. Little did she know that things are about to turn around for her.

As a 4Ps beneficiary, Perlita joined the Cookery NCII Skills Training by DSWD through the Sustainable Livelihood Program. The gained skills opened new opportunities for her as she opened her own eatery after completing the course. Six years on, the business has grown and the family is living comfortably as she hoped. All children are doing good at school as scholars. They have been in close communication with their youngest who is living with his adoptive family, who will be migrating with them to another country soon. From dried fish and shrimp paste as staple meals to affording healthy meals; light materials to concrete and tiled home; from living on a day-to-day basis to having savings, things are indeed looking up for Perlita.

For Perlita, SLP paved the way to a brighter future and cannot be more grateful for how her life turned out despite the many trials she had to overcome.

Photos and story contributed by Norwel C. Placer, Project Development Officer II