Field Office IV-B (MIMAROPA)

Last May 3-4, 2012, the Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Project Management Office held a Local Government Units Forum to know the updates on sub-project implementation of the ten Makamasang Tugon municipalities. Implementation shall end on June 30, 2012.

The two-day activity gave way for the reporting of the status of sub-project implementation. Assistant Regional Director and Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Project Manager Annie Mendoza said that by June 30 this year, all sub-projects must be accomplished as it will also mark the end of implementation. This is in accordance to the directives of the Secretary. But prior to that, the closing of community accounts is slated to be on June 25, 2012, thus all funds must be fully utilized.

Malate, Manila – Some 36 Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinators and municipal encoders attended the Orientation Training on the Enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation Processes and Kalahi-CIDSS Database system held last April 23-25, 2012. The activity was held in light of the project scale up from 13 to 30 municipalities across the MIMAROPA region. Monitoring and evaluation shall prove to be tedious given the number of municipalities for 2012. Yet challenges that will be faced will be given solution through the consolidation of lessons and directions to the new framework and the upgrading of the management information system.

The training was divided into two parts. The first part covered the background on RBME, final draft of the M&E sub-manual, and the basic data management using the MS Access. The second part, on the other hand, focused on the quantitative and qualitative evaluation, third party monitoring, and municipal assessments.

Seventeen new areas of the Kapit-bisig Laban saKahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or Kalahi-CIDSS, a community-driven development project of the government, have already begun the conduct of their municipal orientations across the MIMAROPA region.

As a backgrounder, the Municipal Orientation (MO) is held to formally provide a comprehensive briefing on the Kalahi-CIDSS project to all local officials and to representatives of national line agencies and non-government organizations operating in the municipality. Local communities also join in this activity to learn about the community-driven development process that they will undergo for about three years. In essence, the purpose of the MO is to build an understanding and appreciation of the Kalahi-CIDSS project among all stakeholders.

Rain pouring over a country where the heat at times is unbearable, is considered a gift to many people. To relieve and refresh themselves of the heat through the cold outpour and for economic and livelihood reasons are by far the two main reasons for their enjoyment. Not to mention the days wherein classes are suspended for kids, who are just as excited to play in puddles of water. While most people rejoice at the sight of rain,people of Barangay Bolo actually fear for their lives. This may sound a little over the top, but the mere sight of rain causes a paralyzing fear that only a few managed to get by.

Ligaya Valenzuela, the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson recounted an event, of which happened during her fourth year in high school, where rain had become the most impossible in the municipality of Torrijos. “It was raining heavily that day, it was a school day and I have to get to my class on time,” she narrated. Since the rain was hard, the road was flooded and there was no other way to pass by. The bark of a coconut tree which was sprawled along the road was the only means she can get to her school without having to step into the flood. But just as she was making her way carefully through the flooded road, she got carried away by the current. “I really don’t know what to do, I was with my aunt but she was also afraid that if she helped me, then both of us will be carried away,” said Ligaya. She noted that she tried to swim against the current but it was no use. She got swept away, finding herself at the foot of the trees. “I thought that was the end of my life,” she said teary-eyed.

When Kalahi-CIDSS came to Torrijos, Marinduque, July of last year, barangays were nothing but oblivious to the project but nonetheless welcomed it with a grateful heart.

A community-driven development project, Kalahi-CIDSS is the government’s primary poverty reduction program wherein communities decide for themselves what project they needed the most. Specifically, the project highlights the participation of each individual in identifying their needs, up to the implementation of the sub-project they have identified.

The Kalahi-CIDSS recently conducted the Basic Training Course for Area Coordinating Team (ACT) last March 26-31, 2012 for the Palawan cluster and Mindoro/Romblon cluster. The training was held simultaneously in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan for the Palawan cluster and in Quezon City for the Mindoro/Romblon cluster.

The Palawan cluster composed of 58 field staff, was trained to serve as area coordinators, deputy area coordinators, community facilitators, and municipal financial analysts for the municipalities of Aborlan, Agutaya, Cagayancillo, Coron, Cuyo, Narra, Taytay, and Quezon. On the other hand, 48 staff comprised the Mindoro/Romblon cluster. These staff will be deployed in the municipalities of Gloria, Roxas, Bansud for Oriental Mindoro, Lubang and Magsaysay for Occidental Mindoro, and lastly in Banton, Calatrava, and Looc, Romblon.

Manila – To further strengthen the participation of public and private sectors in the preparation of the budget for the fiscal year 2013, a consultation dialogue with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was recently conducted by the DSWD IV-B last March 2, 2012 at the Aloha Hotel.

Some 16 CSOs participated in the activity, flying in from the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, and Palawan. Also in attendance were Director DulfieShalim of the Protective Services Bureau and Director Lynnette Bautista of the Policy Development and Planning Bureau, who served as resource speakers in the activity.

Alongside the conduct of MIBF, the municipality of Torrijos was given recognition for being a gender-pilot municipality of KALAHI-CIDSS. Gender Specialist from the KALAHI-CIDSS National Project Management Office Ms. Lourdes Touriano gave the plaque of recognition to Mayor Gil Briones.

“Torrijos did a good job in integrating gender sensitivity in all activities of the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC). This was made ossible with the help of both Area Coordinating Team and Municipal Coordinating Team of Torrijos. The great synergy of the two groups facilitated the successful conduct of KALAHI-CIDSS activities,” said Ms. Touriano.

Region IV-B is proud to be one of the two gender-pilot municipalities of KALAHI-CIDSS, which started implementation last year. ###

Manila – To further strengthen the participation of public and private sectors in the preparation of the budget for the fiscal year 2013, a consultation dialogue with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was recently conducted by the DSWD IV-B last March 2, 2012 at the Aloha Hotel.

Some 16 CSOs participated in the activity, flying in from the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, and Palawan. Also in attendance were Director DulfieShalim of the Protective Services Bureau and Director Lynnette Bautista of the Policy Development and Planning Bureau, who served as resource speakers in the activity.

Regional Director Violeta Cruz was among the several attendees during the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum of Torrijos, Marinduque last February 28-29, 2012. The regional director shared that it is her first time to attend the MIBF. She said this is where the localized decision-making is given “flesh”, made evident by the entire municipality through the prioritization of sub-project proposals.

“While KALAHI-CIDSS gives grants to communities for the implementation of various sub-projects, it goes beyond changing the landscape for it endeavors to make people address their needs and work their way towards their own development,” remarked Director Cruz. Furthermore, she thanked the municipality of Torrijos for the warm welcome it gave KALAHI-CIDSS, similar to PantawidPamilya and Sustainable Livelihood. To conclude, she wishes that the municipality will retain its zest and participation in activities not only of KALAHI-CIDSS, but also of the other programs as well. ###