The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 6 won in the 4th Best Public Sector Projects Award in Region 6.

The Best Public Sector Projects Awards initiated by the Regional Development Council (RDC) has three categories – national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGus) and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The RDC which is composed of governors of the six provinces in Western Visayas, 16 mayors, 18 representatives of private sectors and 22 regional directors of national government agencies conceptualized the Public Sector Projects Awards to promote and reward good-performing organizations within the said category. It started in 2006.

Specifically, the search has four objectives_ to identify and recognize good practices in the public sector, enhance the public image of government, identify good practices for possible replication in other areas and develop social accountability, transparency and good governance.

DSWD-6 was chosen by the Board of Judges as the winner in the National Government Agencies category. For its entry entitled “Ang Banas Padulong sa Kauswagan.”

“Ang Banas Padulong sa Kauswagan is a documentation of a barangay trail with foot bridge project of Kalahi-CIDSS in the island-barangay of Macatunao, in Concepcion, in the northern town of Iloilo.

The documentation highlighted the collaborative effort of the community and the local government of Concepcion, with the supervision from the Regional Project Management Office that made the construction of the community project, which cost P1.1 million possible.

The barangay foot trail with foot bridge serves 200 households and 149 indirect beneficiaries from the other sitios and neighboring barangays.

The implementation of the sub-project was led by the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson Vivian Dolor, a resident of Barangay Macatunao whose story appeared of pawning her wedding ring to buy their needed materials for the presentation of their project concept was featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rated K.

Dolor’s sacrifices as well as that of her fellow volunteers to implement their chosen sub-project subsequently inspired development workers and assorted groups in getting involved in community-driven development.

The DSWD will receive a trophy and a cash prize of P50,000 for winning the award.

The four other contenders for the national government agencies category are “OPLAN SAGIP Eskwela-Hanap Eskwela” of Department of Education (Guimaras), Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Promotion of Complementary Food Technology of the Department of Science and Technology and Police Regional Office’s 6 Barangay Peacekeeping Operations Project.
DSWD’s feat was confirmed through a letter sent by NEDA VI Regional Director and RDC Acting Chairperson Ro-Ann A. Bacal to DSWD Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.

The awarding rites is set on April 1, 2014 with Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad as as guest of honor. The awarding ceremony will follow after the RDC-VI 1st Quarter Full Council meeting at Smallville 21 Hotel.
Kalahi-CIDSS uses the community-driven development (CDD) strategy to empower citizens through various trainings and activities to capacitate them to identify and solve community concerns that affect their local poverty situation.

The NCDDP is the scaling up of the operations of Kalahi-CIDSS. It is set to start implementation in 2014. NCDDP will support community-driven post disaster response and development in Typhoon Yolanda-affected municipalities within provinces covered by the program./dswd6/Maricar M. Calubiran