By Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 02, (PIA) - - For this year, 12 municipalities have been selected to
implement the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated
Delivery of Social Services, ( Kalahi-CIDSS) project, the revolutionary
community-driven development project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD).
The
municipalities that have officially begun the implementation are Naga, Ipil and
Malangas in Zamboanga Sibugay; Tukuran, Tigbao, Dumalinao and Tabina in
Zamboanga del Sur; and Salug and Manuel Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte. Those that
are yet to begin are Sibuco, Sirawai and Baliguian also in Zamboanga del Norte.
These areas are noted to have high poverty incidence.
The Kalahi-CIDSS project is a bottom-top approach to development planning, which puts decision-making with regards to the implementation of community sub-projects like water systems, roads, schools, and more, to the organized groups of volunteers. These volunteers are the front line implementers of the project in the communities, after being given trainings on project identification, implementation, and operation and maintenance. The project capacitates the people to handle huge sums of money for the implementation of the projects, in most cases, millions of pesos.
During the municipal orientations conducted, the mayors on concerned areas have openly expressed their optimism that by enlisting the partnership of the basic sectors, they will be able to come up with a more thorough action plan for development every year.
“This is a unique approach, but we know that it works,” shares Salug mayor Jeffrey Lim.
“By bringing the decision-making process down to the people themselves, we are assured of a more holistic approach in addressing our town’s multi-faceted problems,” said mayor Danilo Dalid of Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, provincial governors have expressed their support to the poverty-reduction efforts of the DSWD. Zamboanga del Sur governor Antonio Cerilles said that in spite of the efforts of government to thwart its many problems, poverty is still persistent, hence the need for a more thorough approach.
On the other hand, Zamboanga del Norte governor Rolando Yebes committed to not only provide supervision to the implementation of the project, but to be hands-on in its implementation. (JPA/DIS/DSWD 9/PIA9-ZBST)
The Kalahi-CIDSS project is a bottom-top approach to development planning, which puts decision-making with regards to the implementation of community sub-projects like water systems, roads, schools, and more, to the organized groups of volunteers. These volunteers are the front line implementers of the project in the communities, after being given trainings on project identification, implementation, and operation and maintenance. The project capacitates the people to handle huge sums of money for the implementation of the projects, in most cases, millions of pesos.
During the municipal orientations conducted, the mayors on concerned areas have openly expressed their optimism that by enlisting the partnership of the basic sectors, they will be able to come up with a more thorough action plan for development every year.
“This is a unique approach, but we know that it works,” shares Salug mayor Jeffrey Lim.
“By bringing the decision-making process down to the people themselves, we are assured of a more holistic approach in addressing our town’s multi-faceted problems,” said mayor Danilo Dalid of Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, provincial governors have expressed their support to the poverty-reduction efforts of the DSWD. Zamboanga del Sur governor Antonio Cerilles said that in spite of the efforts of government to thwart its many problems, poverty is still persistent, hence the need for a more thorough approach.
On the other hand, Zamboanga del Norte governor Rolando Yebes committed to not only provide supervision to the implementation of the project, but to be hands-on in its implementation. (JPA/DIS/DSWD 9/PIA9-ZBST)