Supporting the concept of social inclusiveness of the DSWD’s Kalahi-CIDSS as a program of the Philippine government to alleviate poverty through community-driven development, the inclusion of the Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) improvement of well-being is a part of the goal of the Program.
Through the social and community organization activities lead by Kalahi-CIDSS such as barangay assemblies, attended by the residents of Quirino, who are all IPs, cultural practices have been strengthened instead of waned down. Traditions and beliefs that have been passed from generation to generation that are threatened to diminish were restored and strengthened because of the initiated activities of Kalahi-CIDSS. “Ang proseso ng Kalahi-CIDSS ay lalong nag patatag sa aming mga IPs dito sa Quirino dahil ibinalik nito ang maganda naming kaugalian (The Kalahi-CIDSS processes strengthened the IPs in Quirino because the Program has reinstated our old traditions)”, Hon. ArtemioMarvil, Quirino Municipal Council Indigenous People’s Representative said.The DSWD, being a development partner of Municipal Local Government Units leads in the execution and transparent operation of Kalahi-CIDSS which ensures social safeguards for the IP tribes as one of the Program’s unique feature to make certain that the Program implementation will not be detrimental to the people it serves.
More than the restoration of their culture, unity, and participation, the Program has become a venue for the residents to connect with each other again and work hand in hand towards the progress of every community through the Kalahi-CIDSS community assemblies and activities.
The people of Quirino have been aware of the development brought by Kalahi-CIDSS in neighboring provinces and municipalities. When Kalahi-CIDSS came to Quirino, their hopes for an improved quality of life were brought back. Their understanding on the responsiveness of the program to their needs for a better living by way of community-driven development strategy reinforces their standpoint on poverty mitigation.
As a first in the Municipality of Quirino, Kalahi-CIDSS as a development program responds with sensitivity to the culture of the IP tribes in the area where the people themselves are empowered to lead, decide, and implement the sub-projects which they themselves have identified to respond to their needs for a better life.
“Hangga’t nananalaytay sa ugat naming ang pagiging IP, pananatilihin naming ang kulturang aming kinalakihan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa pagpapaalala sa aking mga kapwa IP sa kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa at ngamingkultura (As long as being an IP flows in our blood, we shall keep this culture that we grew up with. I am thankful to Kalahi-CIDSS for reminding us on theimportance of unity among IPs and and culture)”, Hon. Marvil added. (by: Jomara S. Chan, Kalahi-CIDSS Social Marketing Officer)
