In facilitating harmony among different cultures existing in the communities, Kalahi-CIDSS has been effectively using the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach in its implementation.

Kalahi-CIDSS, one of the core poverty alleviation programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), gives strong emphasis in the participation of the vulnerable sectors, which include the Indigenous Peoples (IP).

To ensure that the IPs are assisted in developing and maintaining their traditional models of development while working together with the mainstreamed population, a workshop entitled Facilitating Community-Driven Development with Indigenous Peoples was recently conducted for Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers.

The workshop aimed to let the community volunteers, both IP and non-IP, determine the different IP groups in the Region and their unique culture; to understand the importance of a culture-sensitive subproject; and to gain knowledge and skills in effective engagement with IPs in the various Program processes.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) discussed the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) emphasizing the right of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) to maintain their unique language, culture, values, and worldview.  The participants also revisited the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) to make them understand and appreciate that the participation of the IPs is equally important with the participation of the other residents as they all live in one community and they are altogether working for their development.

Many community volunteers come from the tribes Kankana-ey, Bago, Tinguian, Applai, and Itneg. They excitedly shared some of their traditional practices. A group dominated by members of the Tinguian tribe presented Begnas, a traditional community dancing for thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. (by Helen Veryan C. Valdez, Social Marketing Officer, with reports from Jomara S. Chan, Regional Capability Building Specialist, Kalahi-CIDSS)