Focal persons from the Municipal Local Government Units of the 11 DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS areas were oriented on the process of capacity assessment for the LGU-led Program Implementation.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) convened the Local Government Units (LGUs) of the 11 partner-municipalities to prepare them for the upcoming Cycle 4 dubbed as LGU-led Program Implementation where they will be the prime facilitators of the processes and activities of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS.

For the past three years, the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS through the Area Coordinating Teams (ACTs) facilitated Community-Driven Development (CDD) in the poorest communities of the Region while training their municipal counterparts to conduct the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC). Anchoring on the Program’s objective to improve local governance, Cycle 4 is to be taken over by the LGU who will be handling the conduct of the CEAC and the facilitation of community empowerment.

The participants walked through their accomplishments for the three cycles ─ the rates of participation of residents in Barangay and Municipal activities and the subprojects completed and prioritized in their respective municipalities.

The Program Fluency Workshop conducted on 27-30 September 2017 was attended by the Municipal Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan Members, and Department Heads from the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS areas namely, Alilem, Burgos, Nagbukel, Quirino, Sigay, and Sugpon in the Province of Ilocos Sur; Bagulin, Pugo, San Gabriel, and Santol in La Union; and Burgos, Pangasinan. The workshop focused on preparing these municipalities and formulating an Action Plan for an LGU-led Program implementation.

Various assessment activities will also be conducted to validate the capacity of these municipalities to perform functions that are vital in the Program implementation. All of the 11 areas took the challenge to continue the adoption of CDD in their localities. They believe in the positive impact of the collaborative efforts of the LGU and the local residents.

The LGU-led implementation will commence in January 2018. (by Helen Veryan C. Valdez, Social Marketing Officer, Kalahi-CIDSS)