Lanao del Norte – “Ang mga programa sa DSWD usa sa dakong rason sa pag-lambo sa Lungsod sa Kapatagan.” This is the statement of Atty. Benjie Y. Baguio, Municipal Mayor of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte in his opening speech during the conduct of the Kalahi-CIDSS Project Culmination Program held at the Municipal Gymnasium in Kapatagan last March 8, 2014.
The Culmination Activity was graced by no less than Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Camilo G. Gudmalin, who was pretty much impressed from the feat Kapatagan has achieved in three (3) cycles of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).
The program highlighted the impact of the Kalahi-CIDSS project to communities in Kapatagan. The Municipality was able to implement 3 cycles of the program, completing 34 sub-projects (infrastructure projects) under the Kalahi-CIDSS Additional Financing, 24 school building/day care centers funded by the AusAID, and 3 LGU funded sub-projects completed using the Kalahi-CIDSS system.
Beneficiaries and stakeholders also shared their experiences volunteering for the project and shared how the program has empowered them and their communities to face challenges that have factored in problems of poverty in their communities.
The Municipal LGU and Barangay LGU has also expressed their gratitude to the Department stating that the Kalahi-CIDSS program has aided in providing their Barangays and the Municipality a venue to address their deficits due to budget constraints.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Gudmalin noted how well stakeholders managed to work hand in hand to make the program successful. He commended the united efforts of the Provincial government of Lanao del Norte, the LGU of Kapatagan and the different Barangay Units for their support (technical and cash counterpart) and all the volunteers from the different barangays who have unconditionally worked through sun and rain just to complete their sub-projects.
With the completion of these sub-projects, there is an increase of the supply side for the other programs of the Department, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to be exact.
Before, 4Ps beneficiaries had a hard time complying with their conditional obligations because of lack facilities within their communities. Now, there are schools, day care centers and health stations within a few steps away from their homes, all because of Kalahi-CIDSS. As for SLP, beneficiaries are able to use Solar Dryers from Kalahi-CIDSS for their products; a convenient help for their livelihood.
Assistant Sec. Gudmalin was all hopes that the Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects would be well taken care of so that the next generations would be able to benefit from it.
The Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the Convergence Strategy programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which utilizes the Community-Driven Development approach in the project implementation. Through the program, a Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) is employed for the community to define their utmost needs, conceive a plan of resolving their problems, and capacitating volunteers so that they will be competent in implementing sub-projects that will answer to their necessities.
Written by Marko Davey D. Reyes, DSWD