Kalahi-CIDSS: A decade of enabling communities through genuine people’s participation

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 15): Kalahi-CIDSS: A decade of enabling communities through genuine people’s participation

For over a decade, Kalahi-CIDSS, now known as National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP), continues to actualize development in grassroots communities as part of DSWD’s mission in pursuing poverty alleviation and empowerment of poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

Kalahi-CIDSS stands for Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services.

Employing “Community-Driven Development” (CDD) as a primary strategy, Kalahi-CIDSS trains and engages communities together with their local governments (barangay and municipal) to choose, design, and implement development projects to address their most pressing needs. Through CDD, communities are given control over resources of the Project, and empowered to make decisions.

KALAHI-CIDSS in Region XI had its pilot implementation in the municipality of Sto. Tomas in 2003 followed by the municipalities of Talaingod, Tarragona, Laak, Manay, Mabini, Governor Generoso, New Corella, Compostela, San Isidro [Davao Oriental], Kapalong and Pantukan across phases and modalities until the present.

In 2012, to widen access to basic services and pursue development, Kalahi-CIDSS through its beneficiary communities prioritized, funded and completed 95 sub-projects amounting to Php 45.65 million. This translates to 18 potable water systems, 20 school buildings, 13 potable water systems, 13 road infrastructures, 7 barangay health stations, 5 flood control systems, 2 footbridges, 7 multi-purpose pavements, 3 solar electrification, 2 Libulongan [peace] centers and 18 other social projects that benefited 22,230 households situated in 135 barangays in 8 municipalities in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Community projects built using CDD have been found to be cost-effective and have strong community ownership.

In 2013, 99 sub-projects were prioritized and funded at an aggregate cost of Php 29.7 million. This means more school buildings, road infrastructures, barangay health stations, multi-purpose pavements, flood control facilities, canals; and other community projects providing basic social services and improving the lives of 9218 more households in 72 barangays in 6 municipalities within 3 provinces.

At the close of 2013, Kalahi-CIDSS in DSWD Region XI looks at a brighter prospect of a wider beneficiary base with the resumption of 4 previous partner municipalities -New Corella, Governor Generoso, San Isidro [Davao Oriental] and Compostela.

The year 2014 heralds the scale up of Kalahi-CIDSS operations under the NCDDP covering 40 municipalities in 4 provinces of Davao Region with the inclusion of the municipalities of Carmen, Braulio E. Dujali and San Isidro in Davao del Norte; Maco, Mawab, Nabunturan and New Bataan in Compostela Valley; Lupon, Banaybanay, Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston in Davao Oriental; and Kiblawan, Sta. Maria, Jose Abad Santos, Sarangani, Don Marcelino, Malita, Sta. Cruz, Sulop, Magsaysay, Matanao and Malalag in Davao del Sur.

The municipalities of Asuncion, Davao del Norte and Montevista, Compostela Valley will be covered in 2015.

All these initiatives form part of the National Government’s response to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to bring down the poverty incidence in the Philippines from 26.5% to 15.6% by year 2015.

Kalahi-CIDSS in Davao Region remains deeply committed to its mandate of service to empower communities through community-driven processes with the goal of improving lives of people in the villages.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=10&sid=&nid=10&rid=605253