By Rowena Cruz DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS (Photo from Gumaca LGU) GUMACA, Quezon - The visit of the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahir...
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| DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS (Photo from Gumaca LGU) |
GUMACA, Quezon - The visit of the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) Region 4-B to the town of Gumaca on June 21, 2023, as part of their five (5) days of conducting Sustainability Evaluation Training for Multi-stakeholder Inspectorate Teams from the towns of the Provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, was aimed at strengthening the capacity of local communities in implementing sustainable development projects.
During the meeting, the team also conducted a dialogue with local officials and community members to gather feedback and insights on the impact of KALAHI-CIDSS projects in the area.
The Regional Project Management Office and the representatives of Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso, CESO III, Lorenzo Mangco, SWOII, and Community Development Officer IV, Claire Panganiban, led the visit.
Reynoso stated that they chose to visit the Local Government of the Town of Gumaca to see and learn about the good initiatives and innovations that they can learn about and use as inspiration for the strengthening of organizations, as well as the long-term benefits of projects funded by Kalahi CIDSS in the country.
He also said that the visit allowed them to personally witness the impact of Kalahi CIDSS in the community and how it has empowered the people to actively participate in decision-making processes and take charge of their own development.
Gumaca Mayor Webster Letargo, said that Kalahi CIDSS has been instrumental in promoting community-driven development in Gumaca. The program has enabled the community to identify their own needs and priorities, and work together to address them through collective action. This has resulted in the successful implementation of various projects such as water systems, school buildings, and health centers, which have greatly improved the quality of life for the people of Gumaca.
Meanwhile, the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Team is led by MPDC Geminina C. Fernando as the KC focal person/PMET Team Leader and Gerrimie Non as the General Facilitator of the work, Community Development Officer IV, Nora San Diego, is a representative of Regional Director Dr. Barry Chua and provides technical assistance to the team. The PMET conducts regular monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the projects implemented in Gumaca.
During the visit, each department presented their contributions to Kalahi-CIDSS organizations and projects, highlighting the impact of their initiatives on the community. The PMET also engages in capacity-building activities to enhance the skills and knowledge of community members in project management and implementation.
Among the practices of the municipality are the institutionalization of the Sustainability Evaluation process for the Kalahi CIDSS projects and all the development projects of the City Government, the formation and appointment of members of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Team (PMET), the allocation of funds for Operation and Maintenance every year to ensure that the barangays have funds allocated to each project, the support of the Sangguniang Bayan in passing resolutions in support of the Community-driven Development Bill, and the maintenance of a participatory, transparency, and Accountability approach to management.
The actions taken by the Local Government for 138 projects from the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS are also shared here. The group went to four of them and had a dialogue or Focused Group Discussion with the residents of Barangay Villa Padua, Barangay Villa Nava, Barangay Gitnang Barrio, and Barangay Villa Perez. The sharing of community members and organizations that care for the project, Sangguniang Barangay, and volunteers was more pronounced in this discussion.
Because the Mayor fully supports the program, even without its implementation, he continues to implement good processes because he believes that the Kalahi CIDSS program is the beauty of the goal that gives every citizen of the Barangay the opportunity to participate, express their voice, and know their responsibilities in the community.
The Mayor's unwavering support for the program has also encouraged more community members to actively participate and contribute to its success. This collaborative effort has resulted in a stronger sense of community and a more effective implementation of the Kalahi CIDSS program.
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