SAN FERNANDO, BUKIDNON—Community associations participated in a two-day basic Organizational Development and Management (ODM) training, April 3-4, 2025, through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), strengthening their involvement and key role in sustaining the benefits of completed subprojects.
Following the 100% completion of community subprojects focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) under KALAHI-CIDSS engages community associations as lead actors in keeping subprojects fully functional in the long run.
During the training, the regional program management team discussed the importance of having the right organizational structure, bylaws, vision, mission, and goals of associations.
“Base sa atong assessment sa mga associations nga atong gi-tap as Operation and Maintenance Groups, nakita nga majority kay expired o wala gyuy rehistro. (Based on our assessment of the community associations that we tapped as Operation and Maintenance Groups, we found that the majority are either expired or not registered at all), said Rogelio A. Alabado, Community Development Officer IV.
Alabado stressed that associations should possess a juridical personality to be able to make an influence and representation in community affairs.
KALAHI-CIDSS engages associations to act as Operation and Maintenance (O&M) groups that will implement annual O&M plans alongside the barangay local government unit. In the coming ODM trainings, KALAHI-CIDSS will revisit O&M plans that were found outdated in the recent assessments.
“Gitan-aw nato sa O&M ang pagsiguro sa kalig-on sa subprojects. Kinhanglan magpabilin ang kahimtang sa imprastraktura, ekipo, ug mga serbisyo sa taas nga panahon,” (In O&M, we look at ensuring the sustainability of subprojects. The condition of the infrastructure, equipment, and services must be maintained over time) said, Engr. Akeem Yadao, Project Development Officer IV for Infrastructure.
KALAHI-CIDSS seeks to provide technical assistance and capacity building in the coming months relative to organizational strengthening. It is part of the program’s efforts in institutionalizing the principle of sustainability from its Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.
San Fernando completed 25 subprojects, including improvements to Day Care Centers, Handwashing facilities and Community toilets. PMNP delivered 221 subprojects throughout Northern Mindanao.
“Manghinaot mi nga duna pay daghan nga training na ipahigayon para ma equip pa gyud with knowledge and skills ang atong mga organizations, ”(We hope that more trainings will be conducted so that our organizations will be further equipped with knowledge and skills) said Alvin Domingcil, LGU San Fernando’s Public Employment Service Office Manager.
The ODM training in San Fernando marked the beginning of capacity-building activities in PMNP areas, conducted in collaboration with Local Government Units.
