Three is not a crowd: The MIMAROPA experience of the Convergence Strategy
Written by Angelica de las Alas
At its most basic, Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or KALAHI-CIDSS embodies three core values that can be said as imperative for poverty-stricken municipalities. While it aims to reduce poverty through improved local governance and empowerment of communities, it proves to be getting its much needed attention with the number of people speaking of the project.
Roughly six years have passed, and yet its effect to communities across the MIMAROPA region can still be felt. True enough, KALAHI-CIDSS did not only transform the physical landscape of MIMAROPA, but also made a difference in the mindset of the people towards poverty. The fight against poverty is still being fought, through the active and voluntary participation of the community, basically adopting the community-driven development approach. At present, 17 new municipalities will open for the year 2012. To embrace KALAHI-CIDSS wholeheartedly like the ten areas which started six years ago is being looked forward to, if not aspired.
Remarkably, the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS will be a piece of cake given the region’s efforts to harmonize the provision of social services to locals, through the convergence of the three core poverty reduction programs of the department. A Regional Convergence Action Team (RCAT) was established to serve as the oversight committee in the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS, Pantawid Pamilya and SEA-K program. It must be noted that the RCAT is under the auspices of the Sectoral Committee on Social Development of the Regional Development Council (RDC). The establishment of the RCAT consequently, is deemed to improve the work involved in the delivery of social services.
Early KALAHI-CIDSS municipalities have served as the supply side of the Pantawid Pamilya. All health centers, school buildings, and water systems built, among others, are being used by the community members who are Pantawid beneficiaries to comply to the education and health conditionalities of the program. It was also late last year that several KALAHI-CIDSS municipalities have been chosen as the venue for the conduct of the Convergence caravan of the region. Part of the caravan was the giving of testimonials of beneficiaries under the program they were in. But apart from those given during the caravan, a testimonial was given by a beneficiary from San Jose, Romblon who attested that she is a recipient of the three programs. A volunteer of KALAHI-CIDSS, a Parent Leader for the Pantawid Pamilya, and an active member of the SEA-K, she juggled her tasks without any much difficulty. She is proud to be a recipient of the three programs. Her zest towards the work was incomparable. She does all these with much grace and more importantly, to her own liking. She ruminates on the fact that this is an opportunity too good to pass and that her efforts will definitely pay off.
Modesty aside, the convergence strategy at the MIMAROPA region bespeaks of the real essence of what convergence really is. Not only because of the efforts of institution itself in providing social services but more of how people also react and participate to its programs. Working towards the same goal that is to uplift people from poverty and likewise empowering them in the process has been the staple element to consider that the convergence strategy is working in Region IV-B. As it happened, the primordial objective of KALAHI-CIDSS went beyond its own beneficiaries. They have made empowerment quite tangible through their participation in Pantawid Pamilya and SEA-K.
Stories as such will continue to prosper given the opening of KALAHI-CIDSS in new municipalities across the region. Sure enough, a lot will be heard from these people. ###
