CARAGA- Twelve (12) municipalities in Caraga region are set to continue this year the implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS)- PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) project.

In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga, the following municipal local government units (MLGUs) had already signified full support for the next cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA implementation: Esperanza, San Luis, Kitcharao, Jabonga, Bayabas, San Miguel, Mainit, Gigaquit, Alegria, RTR, Tagbina, and Veruela.

A total amount of Php48.3-M is allotted for the 161 conflict-affected barangays which were identified to be the beneficiaries of the Project.

“The communities in these barangays will be the ones to spearhead the implementation of sub-projects which will address their locale’s most pressing needs of basic social services amid the peace and development challenges,” said Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli of DSWD-Caraga.

To date, 10 MLGUs have already signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the CY 2015 Project engagement with DSWD-Caraga. The other 2 towns are scheduled to sign the MOA within March 2015.

PAMANA is the national government’s peace and development framework to respond and strengthen peace building, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected areas. This framework is adopted by the Kalahi-CIDSS program implementation in which peace and social cohesion lens is mainstreamed and integrated in all project processes.

The objectives of the Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA project emphasize on building capacities of communities in addressing the disputes and promoting peace through activities that ensure participation and inclusion of most vulnerable groups or sectors. It also caters to reduce poverty through community intervention and focused delivery of social services and to improve governance by convergence of the delivery of basic social services. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)