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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gathered more than 200 community volunteers under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services: National Community-Driven Development Program (Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP) during the first Regional Community Volunteers’ Congress dubbed as “Panagtapok 2018”, March 26-28, at the Chali Beach Resort, Cagayan de Oro City.

The 225 Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP community volunteers represent 45 municipalities of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon combined.

DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Community Volunteers showcased their talents in different creative presentations depicting their experiences, hardships, heartaches, successes, and hopes in the implementation of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP in Northern Mindanao during Panagtapok 2018 – Regional Community Volunteers’ Congress, March 26-28, Chali Beach Resort. (DSWD Photo)

Panagtapok is a venue for the community-volunteers from the different provinces of Northern Mindanao to converge and share their experiences in the implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP, as well as a venue for them to showcase their success stories that could promote Community-Driven Development (CDD) as one of the key poverty alleviation strategies of the government.

Hernanito Eduria, a community volunteer from Barangay Vista Villa in Sumilao, Bukidnon, said “daghan kayo ko og na-meet nga mga kaubang volunteers, didto daghan nga topics ang gihisgutan para ma-enhance ang capability sa mga volunteers, despite nga ako BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) head lamang – akong mga kauban sa grupo mga BSPMC (Barangay Sub-project Management Committee) chairpersons, nalipay ko kay daghan sila og na-share sa akoa, at the same time aduna sad ako’y nahatag sa ila nga maayo nga opinion mahitungod sa BAC (I met a lot of fellow volunteers, there were a lot of topics discussed to enhance the capability of the volunteers, despite being just a BAC head – and my groupmates were BSPMC chairpersons, I was happy that they shared a lot of experiences with me, at the same time I too gave them my opinion regarding BAC).”

Hernanito enthused “abi nako ako ra maoy gamay ra og experience sa Kalahi-CIDSS, pero nakatag pud ko og advice sa ila og nakita nako nga makatabang kani sa ila (I thought I was the only one there who had little experience with Kalahi-CIDSS, but I was able to give the others some advice and I think it will help them a lot).”

He further notes that “uyon kaayo ko nga i-adopt sa mga LGU (Local Government Units) and CDD (Community-Driven Development), kay diha sa CDD nakita ug na-experience gyud namo ang proseso sa pagsuta sa problema, diri pud namo nahibal-an kung unsa gyud among gi-kinahanglan, ug unsay angay sa amo nga project – kabalo mi nga paghuman og implementar ug pagkumpleto sa project – amo gyud nga magamit (I really agree that the LGUs should adopt CDD, because it is in CDD that we have experienced the process of finding what the problem is, here we also knew what we really needed, and what project is suitable for us – we know that once the project is implemented and completed – we could really use it).”

“Para sa akong mga kapwa-volunteers – dasig lang gyud ta!, dili gyud ta musurender kai ang atong mabuhat karon mahimo kining legend sa ato-a, wala man tay salapi nga mahatag para tabang sa atong barangay pero ang atong kusog, atong kapasidad, mao ni atong ikapaambit nga para nay matukod nga improvement sa atong barangay – mahimo tang makatabang ani, ug umaabot sa damlag nga panahon, ang atong mga kabataan makapahimulos niini – ug tanan atong nakat-unan paagi sa  trainings nga gihatag sa ato sa Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP ato pud ipasa sa atong mga kabataan, aron matudluan sila nga ang CDD mao atong gamiton nga proseso sa pag-implementar sa mga programa sa barangay (To my fellow volunteers – we should keep pushing! We should never give up because what we do now will become legendary. We may not have money to give and help our barangay, but our strength and capacity is what we can contribute to build some improvements in our barangay – we can help this way. And when time the comes, our children will really enjoy this – and all the learnings through trainings that was given to us by Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP should be passed on to our children. That way we can teach them to use the CDD process should be used in implementing programs of the barangay) concludes Hernanito.

Once the Concreting of a 0.27 kilometer Barangay Access Road in Barangay Vista Villa is completed a total of 611 households, 149 of which are Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, will benefit from the community sub-project, this as their current road is muddy and slippery during rains making it difficult for trucks and vehicles to transport farmers’ crops and produce, furthermore, several vehicles have already encountered accidents here.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Aldersey Mumar dela Cruz addresses the community volunteers in attendance during the Regional Community Volunteers’ Congress, Chali Beach Resort, March 26-28, 2018. Director Dela Cruz is hopeful that the volunteers will remain enthusiastic and happy in implementing the community sub-projects under the Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP, and reminds everyone that in unity – there is strength. (DSWD Photo)

Director Aldersey Mumar dela Cruz, Assistant Regional Director for Operations of the DSWD, said to the volunteers “ang pagpahigayon sa volunteers’ congress sa Region 10, dugay na nako kini nga damgo, dugay nasad kini nga damgo sa mga volunteers nag magkahiusa, hinaot nga magpabilin inyong kadasig ug kalipay, ikaw, ako, kitang tanan maghiniusa – padayon! (the conduct of the volunteers’ congress for Region 10 has been a long-time dream of mine, this is also the dream of the volunteers to gather and unite, I hope that your enthusiasm and happiness will remain, you, me, all of us unite – move forward!).”

The Volunteers’ Congress concluded on a high note with the volunteers showcasing their talents in different creative presentations depicting their experiences, hardships, heartaches, successes, and hopes in the implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP in Northern Mindanao.

Written by Shaun Alejandrae Y Uy, DSWD

Nievan B Llacuna, Kalahi-CIDSS Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson of Barangay Sindangan, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental shares his experiences in the implementation of the community sub-projects in their area during Panagtapok 2018 – Regional Community Volunteers’ Congress, March 26-28, Chali Beach Resort. Llacuna is a teacher by profession, and volunteering is his way of giving back to the community. Nievan is also part of the region’s delegation to the National Community Volunteers’ Congress in Manila, August 2017, sponsored by the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS National Program Management Office. (DSWD Photo)

 

DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Sub-Regional Program Coordinator (SRPC) for Misamis Oriental Engr. Abobacar Tocalo lectures on the importance of a Local Government Unit (LGU) – led Community-Driven Development programs or projects. SRPC Tocalo also emphasized the importance of pushing for the integration, adoption and/or institutionalization of the CDD process in the local governments, especially in the barangays, as this will lead to an empowered community that helps in nation building. (DSWD Photo)