Whenever asked about his impression of the KALAHI-CIDSS program, last-termer Mayor Samuel Parojinog of Tudela, Misamis Occidental has a consistent response—“Sa KALAHI, gamay ang pondo, dako ang agi!” (In KALAHI, the budget is small, but the impact is big!)
Mayor Parojinog has welcomed the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program in his town since 2015. Believing it was merely an augmentation to the LGU’s limited resources, their appreciation for the program’s Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach has grown along with many lessons learned and good practices.
Over the last 10 years of implementation, KALAHI-CIDSS delivered 121 subprojects addressing gaps in basic infrastructure and development needs especially within Indigenous communities.
In the previous years of implementation, LGU Tudela consistently showed a strong commitment to KALAHI-CIDSS by not only meeting the required local cash counterpart (LCC) for its subprojects but also ensuring it is provided on time. The LGU contributed over PHP 15 million to support KALAHI-CIDSS community grants.
In addition to its timely cash contributions, LGU Tudela has also made significant non-monetary contributions, such as providing a counterpart team to collaborate with DSWD staff, supplying office space, and offering logistical and technical support to ensure the efficient implementation of the program.
One of their commendable practices is their strong Municipal Stakeholders Inspectorate Team (MSIT), which conducts an annual Sustainability Evaluation (SE) of all KALAHI-funded projects. This process ensures that the subprojects continue to deliver benefits to the community.
Additionally, the LGU is closely monitoring CSOs who manage the sustainability of subprojects, especially income-generating ones that require linkages for capacity building and marketing.
The Weaving Center subproject in Barangay Buenavista, run by Subanen women, has been identified and supported by the LGU to be one of the suppliers for the province’s Pasalubong Center.
“Nalipay mi nga maka assist pod ang LGU sa amo, labi na sa marketing sa among mga produkto,” said Bae Ester Acla, the association’s president.
CDD, as a development strategy, is institutionalized in Tudela through Municipal Ordinance No. 23-16. Under this legislation, all project proponents are required to conduct public hearings to ensure that communities are informed and actively involved in decision-making and project implementation.
This year 2025, LGU Tudela is embarking on a new journey to implement an LGU-led CDD program. Managed by its competent Municipal Coordinating Team, 25 barangays have committed to implementing development projects using the CDD approach.
A total of PHP8 million has been allocated from the barangays’ respective development funds. In the same vein, the municipal LGU has allocated over PHP955, 000 cash counterpart and PHP3.9 million worth of in-kind contribution. Their willingness to embrace the challenge to independently implement CDD reflects their strong belief in the approach for promoting inclusive development and continued empowerment of communities.
More stories lie ahead for LGU Tudela as they work towards making CDD a way of life in local governance.