Ms. Connie Acosta, KALAHI-CIDSS monitoring and technical assistance officer for the Mindanao cluster said that the P300,000 funds for CABs in the municipalities of Payao, Tungawan and Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay are an augmentation of funds for these communities to enable them to implement peace-promoting projects.
Pamana was tied up with DSWD’s community-driven KALAHI-CIDSS project since the two practically have the same objectives: to empower communities, enhance governance, and reduce poverty – this time with special emphasis on barangays affected by conflict and violence.
The KALAHI-CIDSS project, in dividing a municipal grant allocation (P500,000 x number of barangays in a municipality), uses participatory prioritization mechanism – it is basically a criteria-based vote-casting by community representatives to decide which communities receive funds for developmental projects. In this manner, some barangays may not be prioritized due to the limited funds. Pamana ensures that all conflict-affected barangays would have development projects, with or without prioritization in KALAHI-CIDSS.
“In Pamana, we are giving focus to conflict-affected barangays since development is slower in these areas. Through this program, we hope that the people will have more initiative to participate in KALAHI-CIDSS activities that promote peace and development,” said DSWD assistant regional director Zenaida Arevalo.
Community projects for Pamana may be infrastructure, livelihood trainings, and other peace-promoting activities such as dialogues. The program is jointly implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is being implemented nationwide. (DSWD-9/ALT/CAL/PIA9/Zambo Sur)
