Butuan City – Underlining the objectives of participatory and inclusiveness of citizenry, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) has recently conducted a Municipal Talakayan in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, November 13.

The Municipal Talakayan brought together the officials and staffs of the municipal local government units (MLGUs) and barangay local government units (BLGUs) of Gigaquit, Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers and staffs, and one partner civil society organization (CSO) in assessing the LGU’s development plans and accomplishment.

According to Christine H. Ampon of the Sibog Katawhan Alang sa Paglambo (SIKAP, “the Talakayan aims to surface the progress of the municipality and generate information from the involved LGU about their implementation of development programs and activities.”

As the lead implementer, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Caraga has been partnering with CSOs in the region to be the watchdogs of their development projects and Ampon added that “though not limited with Kalahi-CIDSS, the Talakayan is seen effective in evaluating the capacity of the LGU in implementing development projects.”

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the government’s anti-poverty projects that strongly stresses the importance of citizen empowerment and their participation in development.

Another Municipal Talakayan is also slated to be conducted in the municipality of Cagdinaao in the Province of Dinagat Islands on December 3, 2011. ### (Social Marketing Unit)