Empowering Filipinos to take the lead in their community’s development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office III through Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP) commits to institutionalize the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach with its partner Local Government Units (LGU) in the province of Nueva Ecija as a result of CDD Institutionalization Training.
The aforementioned training aims to deepen the knowledge of participants in the CDD approach and its elements: Participation, Transparency, and Accountability. Hence, strengthening the commitment of LGUs to integrate and adopt the CDD in their respective local governance.
CDD is a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes. It is a process that encourages citizens to be more active in their community’s development. Moreover, it empowers the people by giving them control, and decision-making powers over resources in their communities; an approach used by KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP to allow communities maximize limited resources by prioritizing their most pressing needs.
The municipality of Laur and Pantabangan were among the new partner LGUs who attended the training and were able to produced an Action Plan institutionalizing CDD committed to be implemented in their local governance. Their Action Plans include the integration of KALAHI-CIDSS processes and activities in their Local Development Plan from Pre-Formulation stage, Budget Formulation stage, Budget Execution stage to Performance stage.
Furthermore, the municipality of Talugtug who have been a pioneering partner since KALAHI-CIDSS started in Region III, reiterated their commitment to further support the CDD through a resolution. Municipal Community Empowerment Facilitator Renato Sabado shared that they are already practicing CDD in their barangays, “Doon po sa aming bayan ay itinatalaga na po natin ang CDD sa pamamagitan ng sila na po ang tumutukoy kung ano po ang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamayanan. Sila na po ang gumagalaw para mag procure, pagba-budget, at mga pinansyal.”
CDD Institutionalization will empower communities through participation in the design, development and implementation of poverty-alleviation and disaster risk-reduction projects.
Participating LGUs were well represented by their Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO), their Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO), and other LGU department heads. Pantabangan Municipal Mayor Roberto Agdipa, Laur Municipal Administrator Rolando Barlis and Talugtug 1st Councilor Fe Cargamento and SB Secretary Venus Con-cepcion were also present during the training conducted in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on November 18-19, 2021.
The Department is hopeful that these efforts will continue to contribute to the attainment of passing the CDD Bill otherwise known as “An Act Institutionalizing the Community-Driven Development (CDD) Approach as a National Strategy for Inclusive Growth and Social Protection, and Appropriating Funds Thereof” into law.
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