Butuan City-  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started this semester the series of consultations with identified local government units (LGUs) to implement the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP), a nationwide poverty-alleviation program amounting to 43.9 billion.

For Caraga, municipalities namely: Buenavista, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves, Remedios T. Romualdez, Santiago, San Francisco (AdS), Santa Josefa, Veruela, Alegria, Bacuag, Burgos, Claver, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Gigaquit, Mainit, Malimono, Pilar, Placer, San Benito, San Francisco (SdN), San Isidro, Santa Monica, Sison, Socorro, Tagana-An, Tubod, Barobo, Cagwait, Carmen (SdS), Carrascal, Cortes, Hinatuan, Lanuza, Lianga, Lingig, Marihatag, Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto (PDI), San Jose, and Tubajon were visited already.

“The Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) had conducted a municipal level orientation, Potential Problem Analyses (PPAs), and follow-up on the enrollment requirements to the forty –six  (46) recipient municipalities of the program,” Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli said.

She added that these dialogues were attended by the local chief executives, Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) officials and department heads, and the punong barangays of the respective municipalities.

Regional Program Manager Mita G. Lim stated that the conducted PPAs resulted with local policy support of which the LGUs expressed commitment to upkeep the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP and willingness to craft ordinances mainstreaming the participatory, transparency, and accountability principles, and enforcement of local ordinance on the conservation and protection of the environment.

“Information disclosure was also achieved through the PPAs,” Lim shared.

“Also, the LGUs are now on the process of preparation for their Local Counterpart Contribution (LCCs) which is a requirement for project implementation. Other LGUs have ready counterparts yet some are still finding ways to raise their needed funds for 2014 engagement with KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP,” she mentioned.

The PPA is a pre-enrollment phase of the social preparation stage of the KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP’s Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC). This process is one of the features of the CDD approach used by the program.

KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP will be implemented in the country from 2014 to 2019 with an allocated budget of Php 43.9 B from the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, and the Government of the Philippines. The program is expected to benefit some 14 regions, 58 provinces, 847 municipalities, 19, 647 barangays, and 5.4 M households in the Philippines.

This is a national program which aims to provide the poor communities access to services and increase their participation in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation. ###(KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)