Manila - “When I assumed my term as the Governor in 2007, I
asked myself how am I going to provide sub-projects to all the barangays
equally. But through Kalahi-CIDSS, we have addressed the problems of some
barangays that can hardly get assistance due to its distance from the
provincial government,” shared Compostela Valley Provincial Governor Arturo T.
Uy during the recent 2nd National Bayani! Ka awarding ceremonies at Hotel H2O.
Eight years past and his province wins one of Department of
Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) most prestigious community development
awards.
In 2015, National Bayani Ka! Awards was conferred to
Maragusan town being the Best MLGU in Participatory Governance and also to
Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer Rey Jaboneta also of Maragusan, as Best PWD Volunteer.
Tested with problems
on peace and order, natural and man-made disasters, the province of Compostela
Valley was able to withstand the challenges and even recognized by DSWD as the
Best Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) Implementing Kalahi-CIDSS in the
2nd National Bayani Ka! Awards.
Kalahi-CIDSS or
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of
Social Services is one of the core programs of DSWD that aims to empower
communities through enhanced participation in local governance and poverty
alleviation projects.
The Bayani Ka! Awards
is a Social Marketing intitiative of Kalahi-CIDSS that recognizes grassroots
heroes and nurtures a pool of community champions.
Other national
awardees were Mayor Ramon Orfanel of Catanauan, Quezon Province (Best Municipal
Local Government Unit), Narcissa Paraso of Nueva Ecija (Best Barangay Local
Government Unit), and Marcelo Gusanan of
Sultan Kudarat (Best Volunteer).
Assessing community needs
With a total of 11 towns, prevailing social problems beset
the province because not all barangays have basic facilities such as school
buildings, day care centers, and health centers.
“I made an inventory in all 235 barangays in the province;
15-20% did not receive any project from the province. And mostly, these areas
are the farthest. Moreover, government
funds were spent without considering the real needs of the people,” recounted
Governor Uy.
Since the start of
Kalahi-CIDSS in the province, the governor has demonstrated his all-out support
by visiting and monitoring communities especially during sub-project
implementation. Further, the province provided beyond the needed cash and
in-kind counterpart.
Governor Uy, whose
vigour is known as a leader, challenged his fellow Local Chief Executives, “I
obliged my people in the province to take heed of their roles and
responsibilities as civil servants.”
He added,
Kalahi-CIDSS has proven to be not just one of the most effective poverty
reduction programs, but it has accomplished a lot in terms of transforming
communities and the people.
To date, a total of
444 community projects were successfully mounted in the province through
Kalahi-CIDSS.
“In my term as the Governor of the province, the
Kalahi-CIDSS program served as my guide in the implementation of projects in
different barangays. I implemented counterpart from the people to imbue the
community driven development. The more we involve communities, the more they
become empowered,” Governor Uy emphasized.
Innovations
Compostela Valley is
among the PLGUs that have demonstrated innovations in adopting community driven
development (CDD) through its implementation of Assistance Towards Unity for
Progress thru Empowerment, Accountability, Cooperation, and Efficiency (ATU-PEACE)
program, which was patterned from the Kalahi-CIDSS process.
ATU–PEACE was
conceptualized in April 2008 to assist local communities in addressing the
needs of the constituents by establishing easily accessible and immediately
needed projects.
The Asian Development Bank, the funding institution of
Kalahi-CIDSS, chose Compostela Valley, along with the Province of Albay, as
pilot area for PLGU Engagement as it has supported the CDD strategy since the
start of Kalahi-CIDSS in the province.
“Kalahi-CIDSS makes
for good politics because the province will submit requirements needed based on
the program’s guideline. I highly commended and appreciated its concept because
it allows the barangays to prioritize sub-projects through proper consultation and
participatory approach in the community,” Governor Uy pointed out.
He added that the program is their springboard of technical
expertise, the source of province’s inspiration in terms of touching people’s
lives.
To date, a total grant of Php 320,979,000.00 has been
accessed to the province for basic infrastructure and community development
projects.
“With the province’s constant partnership with DSWD
Kalahi-CIDSS and the community, a better quality of life for Comvaleños is not
too far ahead,” Governor Uy concluded. (DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos)
