Montevista first to launch expanded program
The expanded Kalahi-CIDSS program in the Davao Region was launched August 28 in Montevista, Compostela Valley Province. Kalahi-CIDSS, which stands for Kapit-Bisig Laban saKahirapan –Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, is a much-vaunted program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), funded by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The program is designed to involve grassroots leaders starting from puroks in the process of identifying, planning and managing community-driven development and poverty alleviation projects.
It is now in the towns of Montevista, Compostela Valley; Luponand Baganga, Davao Oriental; Braulio Dujali and San Isidro, Davao del Norte; and Kiblawan, Malalag, Jose Abad Santos, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino and Sarangani, Davao del Sur. Kalahi-CIDSSwas initially implemented in 16 municipalities in Region 11.
DSWD regional director Priscilla N. Razon said some 80 field workers were recently deployed in the region after a week-long orientation in the Island Garden City of Samal.
Razon said each town will be under an area coordinating team (ACT) composed of an area coordinator (AC), technical facilitator (TF), financial analyst (FA) and community empowerment facilitator (CEF). The ACT shall lead the implementation of the program in the municipality in coordination with the municipal coordinating team (MCT), the ACT counterpart installed by the municipal LGU (local government unit) in a Kalahi-CIDSS area.
Razon was all praises for the ACT in Montevista for being the first of the 11 towns to launch their Kalahi-CIDSS.
Sonny A. Legario Jr., area coordinator of Montevista, said his team started orientation of grassroots leaders to capacitate them in identifying projects they will propose for their communities such as roads, bridges, potable water, health stations, post-harvest facilities and other projects to be prioritized for funding with a total grant allocation of P13,860.700 for Montevista and a municipal counterpart fund of P1.9 million.
Legario said the community leaders have to understand that the grant and municipal counterpart fund will be up for grabs by 20 barangays whose project proposals have to be screened because not all of them can be funded under one cycle.
The 11 municipalities covered by the expanded Kalahi-CIDSS will get a total grant of P173,980,750 intended to benefit a total of 197 barangays, Razon said. Contributed
