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.