DSWD-12 releases funds for Kalahi-CIDSS projects

DSWD releases Php227 million for Kalahi-CIDSS projects in Region-12 Koronadal City---The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region-12 has released some Php227.65 million for the construction of various community projects funded through the agency’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-A Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Program. Gemma N. Rivera, DSWD-12 assistant regional director revealed on Thursday that the said amount released represents a total of 161 projects and barangays as beneficiaries located in three provinces of the region. The said amount was released directly to the community, through their account opened purposely for the implementation of their chosen projects,” Rivera said. Rivera added that constructions, which are managed and supervised by the community themselves, of the projects are now ongoing and are expected to be completed starting this month. Among the municipalities, according to Rivera, that are implementing the program include towns of Isulan, Bagumbayan, Lambayong, Kalamansig, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Palimbang, Lutayan, and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat Kiamba, Maitum, Maasim and Glan in Sarangani Aleosan, Alamada, Banisilan, and Pikit in North Cotabato. Carmen in North Cotabato, is the 17thtown in the region to implement Kalahi-CIDSS and still now in the process of social preparation to identify projects of communities that will be funded under the Program. Rivera added that among the prioritized projects this year include school buildings, water systems, health centers, drainage systems, road concreting and rehabilitation, solar drier, ware house and other agricultural-related projects, bridges and many others, which are expected to address the most pressing needs, especially of the poorest among the poor in the remote communities. A community-driven development (CDD) program, Kalahi-CIDSS employs strategies that development priorities are addressed in participatory, collective and inclusive decision-making, in which, control over resources is in the hands of the communities. Impact studies from World Bank and Asian Development Bank, two of the major funding agencies of the program, revealed that CDD strategy is effective way in reducing poverty, empowering communities and improving local governance, one of the reasons of its expansion and scaling-up as a national strategy for poverty-reduction of the Philippines.