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Community volunteers from the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Bukidnon represent the region in the 3rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress in Butuan City in the Caraga Region, August 13.

Northern Mindanao delegates receive their awards in the 5th Bayani Ka Awards during the 3rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress in Butuan City, August 13. The awardees are accompanied by the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS regional staff. DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista graces the award ceremony. From left: M&E officer Jay Jul Delima, CV Florentino Amores, CV Mary Ann Patalinghog, Area Coordinator Jhona Landong, CV Mariela Galendez, CV Suzette Mosende, CV Joselito Tumanod, CV Arlene Misiona, CV Roger Mutia, CV Mohammad Shiek Pandapatan, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim, CV Josephine Oracion, DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS National Program Manager Director Janet Armas, Area Coordinator Gilmar Yamba, Area Coordinator Binladin Tiolo, and Social Marketing Officer Shaun Uy.

The Northern Mindanao delegation comprised of nine community volunteers, representing their respective Barangay Sub-Project Management Committees (BSPMC), from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP).

Mary Ann Patalinghog representing the community of Barangay Kilangit, Gitagum, Misamis Oriental; Suzette Mosende of Barangay Taparak, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental; and Mariela Galendez of Barangay San Jose, Medina, Misamis Oriental are awarded in the Improved Local Governance category.

“dako kayo ang akong kalipay nga kami nga taga-Taparak nahimong usa sa mga awardee sa Bayani Ka Awards, dili namo ni makab-ot nga pasidungog kung wala ang suporta sa among lokal nga pangagamhanan, sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS na staff, barangay officials ug kauban namong mga boluntaryo (I am very happy that we from Taparak are recipients of this Bayani Ka Award, we could not have achieved this recognition if not for the support of our local government, the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS staff, barangay officials and our fellow volunteers)” says Suzette.

Suzette also says “kini nga award maoy makadugang sa among kadasig sa pag-amping ug pagatiman sa among mga proyekto gikan sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS ug sa ubang ahensya sa gobyerno (this award gives us more enthusiasm in taking care and monitoring our projects from DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS and other government agencies).” 

Florentino Amores representing the community of Barangay Aromahon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental is awarded in the Elderly category which recognizes communities who value the elderly sector with equal opportunities. Florentino is 63 years old, and a pastor.

“Nagpasalamat ako sa Ginoo sa mga kaayuhan ug kalamboan nga nahatag sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS sa among barangay, nga sa kadugay sa panahon kami nangandoy og proyekto nga makahatag og tingusbawan sa among barangay ug sa mga lumulupyo niini, ug karon natubag na gyud (I thank God for all the blessings and progress the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS brought to our barangay, for the longest time we have clamored for projects that would give prosperity to our barangay and the residents, now it is answered)” Florentino said.

Barangay Aromahon in Laguindingan is recipient to four community sub-projects through DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. These are: Day Care Center, 1 unit school building with two classrooms, concreting of 0.350 kilometer farm-to-market road, and a continuation of the 0.300 kilometer farm-to-market road. These community sub-projects span from 2015 to 2019 implementation of the program.

Mohammad Shiek Pandapatan representing the community of Barangay Pacalundo, Baloi, Lanao del Norte is awarded in the Sustained Community Volunteers’ Group. Mohammad is also now part of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament under the Office of the Member of the Parliament Said Shiek as a Chief of Staff (EA VI). Mohammad volunteered and was selected as the BSPMC chairperson of Pacalundo from 2015 – 2018.

Mohammad Shiek Pandapatan representing the community of Barangay Pacalundo, Baloi, Lanao del Norte and the rest of the participants of the 3rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress write letters to legislators, the president, and to whom they think can help CDD become a law.

Mohammad encourages everyone to boost the call for CDD institutionalization “Suportahan po natin ang institusyonalisasyon ng Community-Driven Development approach ng DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. Suportahan po natin ang pagsasabatas nito, malaki at maliliit po na problema sa ating mga kumunidad ay nasolusyonan na ng CDD approach  (let us support the institutionalization of the Community-Driven Development approach of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. Let us support making it into a law, big and small problems of our communities have been given solutions using the CDD approach of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS).”

Arlene Misiona of Barangay Lower Sagadan, Baroy, Lanao del Norte; and Josephine Oracion of Barangay Maribojoc, Tudela, Misamis Occidental represent their communities and are awarded in the Gender and Development category.  

Roger Mutia representing the community of Barangay Ospital, Aloran, Misamis Occidental is awarded in the Environmental Protection category. The Labo creek, which stretches out to the Aloran River overflows and endangers the lives of the community members – despite not being prioritized for two cycle implementations, the community never lost hope of their dream. The community sub-project of the Barangay Ospital is the Construction of 40 Linear Meter Flood Control Structure is now completed which is funded through the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS amounting to P1,350,572.00 with P116,00.00 local counterpart from the barangay development fund of Ospital. Roger Mutia was recently elected as a Barangay Councilor and holds the committee chairmanship of environment and infrastructure.

Joselito Tumanod representing the community of Barangay New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon is awarded in the Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare category.

Oracion, Galendez, and Tumanod were also recently elected as barangay councilors in their respective communities.

The Bayani Ka Awards and National Community Volunteers Congress is an activity that recognizes the efforts and valuable contributions of community volunteers who have been implementing sub-projects through the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

The activity is an annual event of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS to celebrate the success of community-driven development which is implemented across 827 municipalities nationwide.

This year’s theme is “Padayon, Kalahi-CIDSS!,” which boosts the clamor to institutionalize the CDD strategy in DSWD programs and in the local development process of municipalities.

The participants of the 3rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress also embarked on a simultaneous field visit to different municipalities that implement DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects in the Caraga Region , here the participants get to interact with the region’s community volunteers in focused-group discussions and other activities.

The event was participated by more than 250 community volunteers, local chief executives, and barangay officials from 14 regions nationwide.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of poverty alleviation programs of DSWD stipulated in the Magna Carta of the Poor. It uses the CDD approach in empowering communities that provides the opportunity for participation by giving them control over decisions and resources. Through CDD, sub-projects target the immediate needs of the communities and community members have larger stake in their own development.          

To date, there are 604,048 community volunteers who worked together to complete the 26,828 community sub-projects nationwide.