The Philippine government is now pushing for the community driven development (CDD) approach as a national strategy for poverty alleviation, as seen by its implementation of the National Community Driven Development Program (NCDDP).

CDD has been tried and proven effective in Kalahi-CIDSS. It gives citizens control over decisions and resources so they can undertake localized solutions to identified community problems.

Kalahi-CIDSS Deputy Regional Project Manager Leo L. Quintilla said the NCDDP will be covering 900 municipalities all-over the country, from 364 covered by Kalahi-CIDSS. The entry of NCDDP in the municipalities nationwide will be done in batches, starting 2013 until 2019.

Of the 900 municipalities, 74 will come from Western Visayas. This will include the current areas implementing Kalahi-CIDSS and Makamasang Tugon graduates.

The first batch of the NCDDP implementation will cover 19 municipalities from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

These 19 municipalities are new to the CDD process, not having implemented Kalahi-CIDSS before. Quintilla added that the “entries of these municipalities in the NCDDP will not automatic. The LGUs must show acceptance of and capacity to implement CDD systems and processes and readiness to provide local cash counterpart, and staff.

He however made clear that the grants intended for the projects will be based on the poverty incidence and population, unlike in the Kalahi-CIDSS wherein municipal grants are fixed regardless of the population size.

“If your municipality has a high poverty magnitude, the municipal grant will be higher,” he said.

CDD has been proven to be highly effective in addressing the needs of the poor, improved basic service delivery, and increased participation of villagers in barangay assemblies.

Municipalities in the provinces of Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras are currently implementing Kalahi-CIDSS-Millennium Challenge Corporation will continue their implementation until the third cycle and Makamasang Tugon modality. Makamasang Tugon is an LGU led implementation.

Their transition into the NCDDP is expected in 2015. “This is in order to continue the process of community empowerment and development,” said Quintilla. (Maricar M. Calubiran/Kalahi-CIDSS-DSWD)