“Sa pag-unlad ng bayan, ‘di dapat naiiwan ang mamamayan.” (The growth of the town should be its people’s, as well). This is more than a sentence but rather a principle to Vice Mayor Quirino Buenaventura, of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, a former long-term barangay captain of Pulong Buhangin, one of the first barangays covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), year 2011, under set three (3).

He, along with his running mate Mayor Russell Pleyton, and five (5) allied councilors won the 2016 election over the previous administration.

Last June 30, 2016, the Municipal Action Team (MAT) of Sta. Maria made a courtesy call to the newly elected officials. On that meeting, the new administration expressed their disappointment to 4Ps, for they believe that it was used during the election period, and so added that they are against the program.

Struggling to build a rapport, the MAT conducted an orientation on DSWD programs along with the presentation of the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) results, during a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) session, last July 19, 2016. The orientation won over the full support of the new administration for they have seen the amount of investment of DSWD Field Office (FO) and the accomplishment of the MAT to address the SWDI gaps.

What caught the LGU’s concern is the alarming figures of the total of 1,328 beneficiaries who do not possess occupational skills (or has work experience of less than two months), and 2,403 beneficiaries who possess occupational skills but not recognized by appropriate authorities (or has work experience of less than 2-5 months; and the 90 households who did not avail at all the health services offered in the barangay for the past six (6) months. These then became the entry point of the invention of the LGU and MAT of Sta. Maria.

Vice Mayor Buenaventura then made it known that the local government unit (LGU) is willing to fund the programs and services that are bound to improve the socio-economic status of the 4Ps beneficiaries. Since most of the DSWD’s programs are similar to the social protection programs of the LGU, they decided to streamline them for 4Ps and provide fund augmentation to address the SWDI gaps. The commitment was formalized with the release of the Executive Order (EO) No. 2016-021 or the creation of the Municipal Action Committee (MAC) and Municipal Grievance Redress Committee (MGRC), and SB Resolution No. 2016-065, which states to “adapt the Municipal Action Plan (MAP) under Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.”

With this endeavour, the LGU started to co-own the program and the MAT is always included in the municipal planning workshops/ sessions, annual investment planning, the compositions of the Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA), and the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for 2016-2019 prioritizing the projects that will further address the SWDI gaps. The SWDI results is then always used and shared. The MAT then secured to provide all the municipal departments with proper data, for what the municipality had in hand is only data projections. Moreover, to further secure the efficiency of the delivery of 4Ps-related services in the municipality, the MAT was provided with a conducive working space to accommodate 14 Inter-Convergence Municipal Action Team (ICMAT) members and their clients. The municipality even provided them with four (4) LGU Links counterpart under cost of service funded through LGU. Aside from the salaries for the Local Links, the LGU also allotted additional P500, 000.00 financial aids for 4Ps in support of their social welfare and development aims.

As the result of the convergence effort of the MAT and LGU, there are: 230 beneficiaries who underwent the Sugar Concentrate and Fermentation Training with additional 3 days training on Entrepreneurial Management; 40 beneficiaries who gained a Negosyo cart; 55 beneficiaries who acquired a sari-sari store, and 440 beneficiaries who underwent the social preparation for their Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), with the assistance of the municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which was awarded last December 13, 2016 as the third best among all the PESOs in Region III; and 100 beneficiaries who have undergone a livelihood training on pudding and cheesecake making, sponsored by Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Maria. The SLP BULAC group in Sta. Maria, Bulacan was awarded as the Regional Best SLP group because of the success of their project.

A total of 175 parent leaders were oriented by the Social Security System (SSS) and introduced to its Alkansya program. Parent Leaders of the municipality are viewed as empowered men and women, for they were the first to conduct an Active Citizenship Forum on Institutionalization of Pantawid Pamilya, which was even attended by Congress Women Linabelle Villarica, 4th District Representative.

In addition, beneficiaries of Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria were taught of Financial Literacy last June 10, 2016 by Cebuana Lhuiller under its Nego-Serye project. Also, a total of 341 children together with their mothers were checked up and were able to receive free medicines, sponsored by Generika Drug Store. Sta. Maria was also visited by the National Program Management Office last September 1, 2016, to serve as the model for the additional gardening requirements of 4Ps conditionalities, for they had already established a bio-intensive gardening also known as the Food Always In The Home (FAITH) program, through the technical assistance and free seeds bestowed by the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO). Alongside with the FAITH program is the cooking demonstration during the Family Development Session (FDS) which aims to offer the 4Ps members innovative recipes of vegetables and affordable organic ingredients.

But among these convergence efforts, the most hailed upon by the target beneficiaries is the Caravan of Services which was celebrated last October 7, 2016; 20 employer/ private companies were invited, and 75% of the 600 beneficiaries who participated in the said event are now already employed. Also, during the event, the Generika Drug Store offered free consultation on breast problems, dental problems, minor surgery and major surgery of which all expenses are shouldered by the Local Government Unit, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation provided free services such as updating of Member’s Data Record, Correction of Information and Registration to the program. About 4,882 4Ps families are currently served by PhilHealth. This Caravan of Services is now an annual project of the municipality; for 2017, it will be celebrated on April.

In addition, to cater these 4Ps families and provide them with accessible health care services, especially those who are in a far flung area and does not have a Rural Health Unit in their area, a mobile clinic was maintained by the LGU. This air-conditioned mobile clinic is equipped with necessary medicinal tool provides free health services such as X-ray, Blood Chemistry, Electrocardiogram (ECG), and Ultrasound. The mobile clinic resulted to an increase of 7% on health compliance, from 90% to 97%.

As for education-related concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) personnel assigned in the municipality were further encouraged to combat illiteracy. The MAT also provided them with Supply Side Assessment (SSA) data. As a result of their combined effort, the compliance rate in education grew from 90% to 95%. Furthermore, a project called Mobile Paaralan which aims to visit every area of Sta. Maria and teach children with basic knowledge on computer and improve their reading skills, is about to surface, within the year.

The strong ties between the LGU and the MAT resulted to sustainable and effective delivery of programs and services in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, which boils down to the slogan of the municipality, that is, “Kaunlaran ng Sta. Maria, nasa mamayang nagkakaisa” (The success of Sta. Maria lies on its united people).

Hence, the convergence initiatives of LGU and MAT then are services and programs that break the stereotype Philippine social system, for they are non-fragmented, coordinated, concise, and non-overlapping.

Up to date, according to Ms. Fortunata A. Lorenzo, the Municipal Planning Development Coordinator (MPDC), they are planning to conduct a Community-based Monitoring System (CBMS), or a house-to-house data gathering, this coming summer of 2017, and cross match it with the existing SWDI data, to identify what has been done and still needs to be done, for the betterment of the beneficiaries in Sta Maria, Bulacan. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

Basahin ang kwento ni Parent-Leader Dremelie A. Jandoc, 41, IP-Bago, mula sa Sitio Casa Reyal, Barangay San Isidro, Laur, Nueva Ecija.

“Kahit anong sipag natin, kahit magbungkal tayo ng lupa buong maghapon, ay balewala, kung hindi natin pag-aaralin ang ating mga anak. Napakahalagang punla ng edukasyon para sa mas mabungang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” ito ang tinatayuang prinsipyo ni PL Dremelie, na kanya rin patuloy na  ibinabahagi sa 25 pang pamilya, bukod sa kanila, na pinamumunuan niya.

Sa ilalim ng programang Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) ay pinili, ng kanya na ring mga tiga-komunidad, si Nanay Dremelie upang maging Parent-Leader ng kanilang Sitio.

Isang malaking pagsubok ito para kay Nanay Dremelie, hindi dahil sa wala siyang sapat na karanasan sa pamumuno o hindi dahil sa siya ay isang babae, kundi dahil sa kanilang komunidad ay mapakarami o napakalaking isyu ng paksyon.

Sa kanilang sitio ay halo-halo ang mga tribo, may mga Igorot (Ibaloy at Kankanaey), Bago, at Kalanguya. Ang kailangang mamuno o hahawak sa Sitio Casa Reyal ay may pusong handang umintindi sa pagkakaiba ng bawat isa—ng kanilang mga kalakasan pati na rin kahinaan, ito ang paniniwala ng buong komunidad.

“Dapat sa pamumuno ay maging agresibong lider, agresibo sa puntong ikaw ay tunay na matatag—matatag para itama ang mga mali ng iyong kasama at bigyan sila ng mas malakas pang boses upang maiparating ang kanilang mga hinaing at suhestiyon sa kinauukulan,” pagbibigay diin ni PL Dremelie.

Sa kulturang katutubo ay laging nakakabit ang maling kaisipan na sila ay pasaway at mahilig magsugal. Bagama’t aminado si PL Dremelie na noon siya rin ay lulong sa pagsusugal, matagal na niya itong tinalikuran, at ngayo’y patuloy n’ya pa ring niyayakag palayo ang natitirang isang (1) porsyento ng kaniyang miyembro sa kanilang masasamang bisyo. Para sa mga miyembro ni PL Dremelie, matatagpuan sa kaniya ang core values (mahalagang pag-uugali) ng DSWD—‘pagkat siya ay maagap, mapagkalinga, at higit sa lahat ay may malasakit.

Sa kasalukuyan, 22 na sa miyembro ni PL Dremelie ang nakatanggap ng alagang kalabaw sa ilalim ng Suport Services Intervention (SSI) project ng MCCT. Ito ay magagamit nila bilang kasama sa pag-aararo at paghahakot mula sa bukid, dahil inabot din ng 400 piso kada araw ang bayad sa upa ng kalabaw. Malaking tipid at tulong, anila. Sa Sitio Casa Reyal ay uso ang pagtatanim ng kamote, palay, at mais sa paanan ng bundok, sa kanilang mga lupang minana (o ancestral domain) na ngayo’y inaayos ang Certificate of Title Land Registry (CTLR) sa tulong na rin ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Hiling naman nila ngayo’y magkaroon na ng sementado at konkretong daan papasok na kanilang Sitio, ‘pagkat madalas itong lubog ng hanggang bewang na tubig tuwing mga buwan ng Agosto hanggang Nobyembre, dahil na rin sa tatlong malalaking sapa na nakapalibot rito. Dagdag pa rito ay nais din nilang magkaroon ng karagdagang pagkakakitaan tulad ng pag-aalaga ng kambing at baboy.

“Nais naming paunlarin ang komunidad, ng hindi sinasakrispisyo ang aming kultura, para sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga katutubo,” bahagi ni PL Dremelie. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

Ito ang kwento ni Parent-Leader (PL) Marites R. Literal, 38, isang Aeta-Magbukon, at isang Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) beneficiary ng Sitio Upper Biaanan, Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan.

Si Marites ay maybahay ng isang magsasaka at magpupulot (honey collector) at may apat na anak. Siya rin ay kasalukuyang Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) at Parent-Leader ng 16 na benepisyaryo, apat dito ay sa MCCT, samantalang ang 12 ay sa Regular CCT o Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Si PL Marites ay nagsilbi bilang Community Secretary mula taong 1999 to 2014, kung saan siya ay isang volunteer at walang nakukuhang sweldo ni allowance. Siya noon ay nagsisilbing middle woman o tagapagpadaloy at tagapaghatid ng impormasyon, isyu, at suhesyon ng dalawang panig—ang panig ng mga regular na katutubo at ang panig ng kanilang mga tinatawag na elders at tribal leaders o tagapamuno. Pagpasok ng taong 2015 ay naitalaga naman si PL Marites bilang IPMR. Ilan sa kanyang mga naging proyekto ay ang pagpapatayo ng humigit kumulang 500 metrong kalsada pababa sa kanilang paaralan at pati na rin ang kung tawagin nila’y pathway sa paligid nito upang hindi mabasa at maputikan ang mga bata tuwing umuulan.

Ang paaralan sa kanilang Sitio ay napatayo taong 2000, sa tulong ng mga Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) tulad ng Integrated Foundation Learning (ITL) at ng bahayanihan na rin ng mga katutubo roon. Nagsimula lamang ito bilang isang simpleng kubo, hanggang sa mapalago nila ito bilang isang Integrated School na mayroon na ring Sekondarya.

Bagamat maituturing na malaking tulong sa pamayanan si PL Marites, aminado siyang noo’y nayayakag niya ang mga kapatid na katutubong magsugal, “animo’y nakadikit na sa kultura at pang-araw araw naming gawain noon ang paglalaro ng kara krus,” kwento niya. Ngunit, ng mapili ang kanilang pamilya at apat pang katutubong pamilya bilang MCCT beneficiaries ay unti-unti nila itong pinilit binura sa kanilang nakasanayang gawi. Noong una’y dahil lang din takot silang mabawasan ang matatanggap na grant, ngunit ng huli’y nabuksan din ang kanilang isipan na hindi ito mabuting gawi na pagnaglao’y dadalhin din ng kanilang mga anak, sa tulong na rin ng Family Development Sessions (FDS) at mga iba’t ibang trainings na nadaluhan ni PL Marites na may kinalaman sa leadership o pamumuno.

Naniwala si PL Marites na s’ya, at sila ay may mga mas makabuluhang bagay pang pwedeng paglibangan, isa na nga rito ang paggawa ng roasted cashew nuts na kanilang natutunan sa tulong ng Local Government Unit (LGU)-Philippine Employment Service Office (PESO). Sila ay nabiyayaan ng bagong skills at mga bagong gamit din sa paggawa ng nasabing produkto. Nito lamang ding kakatapos na Oktubre 17 hanggang Nobyembre 5 (20 araw) ay nagtanim ng mga buto ng mangga, kasoy, langka, at luya sina PL Marites at kanyang mga katutubong miyembro, bilang bahagi ng Cash for Work Program ng DSWD, sa kanilang mga Ancestral Domain (AD). Hiling nila ngayo’y sana sila ay mabigyan pa ng mga buto o seedlings at mga alagang hayop, na kanilang sabay-sabay na papalakihin at pararamihin, upang matiyak na ang kanilang kaapuapuhan ay ‘di lang basta may lupang mamanahin ngunit pati pagkakakitaan na rin.

“Hindi sa habang panahon ay may tutulong sa ating mga Aeta, kaya mag-aral kayong mabuti. Darating ang araw na hihinto na sila sa pagtulong sa atin, hindi dahil sila’y sawa na ngunit dahil marunong na tayong tumayo sa sarili nating mga paa,” laging paalala ni PL Marites sa mga batang Aeta.

Sa kasalukuyan, sa paglalakas na rin ng loob ni PL MArites na sumulat sa Alternative Learning System (ALS) head office ay nagpadala ang nasabing ahensya ng tatlong (3) guro upang tumutok sa mga magulang na hindi marunong magbasa at magsulat, tuwing miyerkules. Ang kanilang pag-aaral ng basic literacy ay ginaganap sa kanilang Multi-purpose hall, na may kumpletong school supplies, sa tulong na rin ng mga nilapitang NGOs ni PL Marites. Sa kasalukuyan din ay mayroong 10 high school scholars si PL Marilyn, lima (5) rito ay sa ilalim ng National Commission on Indigenous People samantalang ang natitirang lima (5) nama’y sagot ng LGU.

Adbokasiya ngayon ni PL Marites na maisama sa Department of Education (DepEd) curriculum ang kanilang kultura at mother tongue o lengguwahe. Sila ngayon ay mayroon ng Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) o kasunduan sa DepEd patungkol sa naturang usapin.

“Parang naging buhay ko na ang tumulong, kasi gusto ko lahat ng mga anak ng aking mga ka-miyembro ay makatapos. Gusto kong makapag-aral ang mga kabataan at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan, isang bagay na ‘di ko man naibigay sa sarili ko ay mailapit ko naman sa kanila,” pagbibigay diin ni PL Marites. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

Kamakailan lang ay bumisita ang Regional Technical Staff ng DSWD Field Office III ng Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) sa pangunguna ni Ms. Rhea Lynn Cabiling sa ikalimang probinsya, ang probinsya ng Tarlac upang pag-aralan at busisiin ang mga case folders ng mga case workers ng nasabing programa sa buong rehiyon. Layunin ng pagbisitang ito na siguraduhin ang kahandaan ng mga kinakailangang impormasyon at datos ng mga benepisyaryo—kung ito ba ay tama at kumpleto, upang mas mapaigting pa ang mga karagdaagang suporta, at bilang paghahanda na rin sa mas maayos na pagdaloy ng transisyon ng ilang benepisyaryo mula sa MCCT patungong Regular CCT (RCCT) o Pantawid Pamilayang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Kabilang din sa pagbisitang ito ay ang pagtukoy sa mga best practice ng bawat probinsya, pati na rin ang paninigurado kung tama ba o talagang naibibigay at nakakatulong ang dagdad na livelihood assistance ng MCCT, sa kanilang mga benepisyaryo, na tinatawag na Support Services Intervention (SSI).

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Pinagsama-sama ang mga taong may puso, ito ang mga katagang pinaghahawak ni Ms. Rhea Lynn Cabiling, ang Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) Focal Person ng Region III, mula ng magsimula ang MCCT, hanggang ngayong patuloy pa rin ang pagtakbo ng programa.

Isa sa mga tinutukoy ni Ms. Cabiling ay si Ms. Maria Angelita Tariga, 33, isang Community Facilitator Assistant (CFA) sa probinsya ng Tarlac. Si CFA Tariga ay apat (4) na taon ng nagtatrabaho sa DSWD.

Ang probinsya ng Tarlac ay may isang (1) siyudad at 17 munisipyo, anim (6) dito ay nasasakupan ng programang MCCT; may kabuuang  625 beneficiaries ang probinsya. Ito rin ang kabuuang bilang ng benepisyaryo na hinawakan ni CFA Tariga ng halos dalawang (2) taon, ng mag-isa. Kailangang niyang gawin ang trabaho ng apat na field workers ng isang (1) taon at siyam (9) na buwan, dahil walang gustong magtagal sa mga bagong empleyado. Upang maabot at mabisita ang mga benepisyaryo ng MCCT ay kailangan ng isang field worker na maglakad ng kilo-kilometro, umakyat ng ilang bundok, at tumawid ng ilang ilog.

Ang pinakalapit na area of assignment ni CFA Tariga ay mararating nito matapos bumiyahe ng isang oras mula sa kanilang opisina, at tumawid ng isang ilog;  samantalang ang pinakamalayo nama’y kanyang mararating pagkatapos bumiyahe ng isang oras at kalahati, maglakad ng apat na oras at tumawid ng humigit kumulang sampung ilog, at dalawang bundok.

“Ang trabaho ng asawa ko ay punong-puno ng peligro, may mga NPA pa minsan sa area,” ito ang ibinahagi ni Mr. Samuel Tariga, asawa ni CFA Tariga na pinili na lamang huminto sa pagtatrabaho bilang executive driver ng isang pribadong kumpanya upang kanya namang ipagmaneho at samahan ang asawa, sa lahat ng lakad nito. “Kumikita nga sa amin ang gobyerno,” biro pa niya. Walang nakukuhang dagdag na kita ang mag-asawa sapagkat hindi naman sila maaaring magtrabaho sa isang programa. At hindi rin naman handang ipagpalit ni Mr. Tariga ang asawa sa pera, sapagkat kahit buntis ay pumapasok pa rin ito at umaakyat sa mga lugar ng benepisyaryo. Dalawa nga sa kanilang apat (4) na anak ay kung tawagi’y MCCT babies.

“Ang paglilingkod ko sa mga Indigenous People (IP)-beneficiaries ay extension ng aking misyon bilang isang faithful servant. Dedicated ako sa kanila ‘cause I know this is a great calling bilang kristyano, at ang experiences ko ay always life changing,” pagbibigay diin ni CFA Tariga.

Si Tarcila Pedariza, isang Parent-Leader ng Barangay Bueno, Capas, Tarlac, ay lubos na nakasaksi sa lahat ng sakrispisyong ginawa ni CFA Tariga, bilang mabuting empleyado ng gobyerno at pati na rin bilang isang simpleng tao. Ang Barangay Bueno ay kung tawagin ay isolated barangay sapagkat tuwing umuulan ng malakas ay halos ilubog ang barangay na ito ng ilog, hindi makalabas ang tao, kaya naman pahirapan pumunta ng palengke at high school. Sa ngayon ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan si CFA Tariga upang magkaroon ng tulay na magkokonekta sa barangay nila palabas ng kabayanan, o kahit hand rail man lamang.

“Mahal na mahal po namin ng mga katutubo si Ma’am May Ann [Maria Angelita Tariga]. Hindi po namin lahat makakalimutan noong bago s’ya rito, ang sabi n’ya sa amin, ‘ituring n’yo akong parang kapatid n’yo, lahat tayo ay mahirap, lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay, magkakapatid tayong lahat,” kwento ni PL Pedariza.

Karamihan sa mga katutubo sa barangay Bueno, maging si PL Pedariza ay nabigyan na ng Support Services Intervention (SSI) ng MCCT; bawat isa ay binigyan ng limang (5) kambing. Marami sa kanila ay pinalaki at binenta ang mga ito upang ibili naman ng alagang baboy o kalabaw, o kaya’y pinampuhunan sa tindahan.

“Ang dami na pong magagandang pagbabagong nadulot sa aming mga katutubo, ng inyong programa at ng mga mabubuti’t matitiya ninyong manggagawa. May mga nakapagpaayos na ng bahay, nakapagpaaral ng mga anak, at higit sa lahat ay natututo kami kung paano makisalamuha. Kaya taos-puso po ang pasasalamat namin sa inyong lahat,” ito ang pabaon na mga kataga ni PL Pedariza sa programa, at mga katulad ni CFA Tariga at matiyang iniimplementa nito. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III conferred to the Municipality of Guagua, Pampanga the 3rd GAwad Listahanan Award during its 66th Anniversary Celebration held recently in this city. Guagua, Pampanga was recognized for consistently utilizing DSWD Listahanan Database in targeting and selecting the beneficiaries of its various social protection programs and services such as localized Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) for women and persons with disability; programs for children and youth, and disaster victims. The municipality has been compliant to the data sharing with the DSWD and in integrating Listahanan in all its social marketing activities. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III conferred to the Municipality of Plaridel, Bulacan the GAPAS Award for Model Local Government Unit Implementing Protective Programs and Services during its 66th Anniversary Celebration held recently in this city. Plaridel, Bulacan was recognized for its invaluable support and commitment to the implementation of various protective programs, projects and activities for the benefit and welfare of the the disadvantaged sectors in the municipality. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III conferred to Mabalacat City the GAPAS Award for Model Local Government Unit Implementing Day Care Services during its 66th Anniversary Celebration held recently in this city. Mabalacat City was recognized for its invaluable support and commitment to the implementation of quality Day Care Service with 100% accreditation of its Day Care Centers and Day Care Workers and fully functional Barangay Council for the Protection of Children in all its barangays. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

A well-informed community is the key towards a successful and thriving society.

It is in this premise that the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Sevices (Kalahi-CIDSS) Region III conducted a participative Municipal Talakayan in General Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija, January 31.

“We are conducting this Municipal Talakayan to equip everyone with the needed information about the current state of the municipal government in General Mamerto Natividad. These information that were provided by the different departments of your municipality will become helpful in your future decision making,” said Ms. Marell Wong, Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of Kalahi-CIDSS Region III.

Kalahi-CIDSS, a community-empowerment program of the Department of the Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), called on to the community volunteers, barangay and municipal local government unit (B/MLGU) officials, and municipal inter-agency committee (MIAC) members to attend today’s event and learn about the current state of the municipal government of General Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija.

“Ang Kalahi-CIDSS ay isang programang direktang tumutulong sa mismong barangay. Ang LGU ay narito lamang upang gumabay at magbigay ng kinakailangang tulong,” said Municipal Mayor Librado L. Santos as he acknowledged the role of the program in the overall empowerment of the communities.

The forum included four (4) sessions tackling about the background of the municipality, existing municipal projects, state of socio-economic development and people empowerment in the community, and the presentation of the municipal plans and future activities. After these sessions, the attendees participated in a gallery walk of photos and graphs of relevant information about the municipality.

After the gallery walk, the participants who were divided into four (four) groups, (community volunteers, BLGU members, MIAC members, citizens), were actively engaged in a focused group discussions.

The Municipal Talakayan ended in a synthesis, evaluation, and open forum where the participants freely expressed their insights, recognitions, and concerns about several aspects of governance in the municipality.### (Ma. Dennielle M. Lomboy)