DSWD Turns Over Tribal Center to Indigenous Community Under KALAHI-CIDSS Program

Posted on March 27, 2025

In a significant step towards the advancement of indigenous communities, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga through Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program formally turns over newly constructed Tribal Center in the municiplaity Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.

The project, with a total funding of Php 3,774,992, is expected to benefit 54 households or 57 families in the community. It will serve as a vital space for meetings, training sessions, and other activities that aim to strengthen the cultural identity and unity of the indigenous population.

Representatives from the DSWD, the Municipal Local Goverment Unit (MLGU), and community volunteers expressed their gratitude and support for the project. They emphasized that the new facility would play a crucial role in promoting community participation and fostering cultural development.

In her speech, Promotive Services Division Chief Mary Ann Manla highlighted the importance of community involvement in the successful implementation of the project.

“KALAHI-CIDSS is a program that empowers people to lead their own development. You, as members of this community, play an important role in making decisions on what projects should be implemented. And now, through your strength, effort, and determination, we have achieved this project,” DC Manla remarked.

Jermalyn Dianiman, a member of the Barangay Development Council–Technical Working Group (BDC-TWG), also expressed appreciation, stating that the new Tribal Center will be a valuable asset to their daily lives.

“This project is very important to us. It will be a space where we can hold important gatherings and discussions for a better future for our tribe,” she said.

KALAHI-CIDSS is one of the DSWD’s flagship programs that follows a community-driven development (CDD) approach, enabling local residents to actively participate in the planning, development, and implementation of projects that address their most pressing needs.