by: Megs S. Lunn
Tangalan mayor Gene Fuentes, giving his reflection speech while Dir. Brigoli and Gov. Marquez listen.
Last March 21, 2012, the DSWD Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Province of Aklan and the five municipalities of Tangalan, Ibajay, Makato, New Washington, and Batan. The signing was held at the Gov. Roberto Q. Garcia Sr. Memorial Building, Capitol Site, Kalibo, Aklan.
The five municipal mayors present were Mayor Jun Legaspi – Makato, Mayor Lulu Miraflores – Ibajay, Mayor Delfina Ramos – Batan, and Mayor Gene Fuentes – Tangalan. New Washing-ton municipal administrator Ma. Reina Olangakaya represented the New Washington Mayor.
Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, in his welcome message, believes the programs of DSWD KALAHI – CIDSS is helping the government brings the community closer to the people by giving grants to the poor, not a dole out, but to give importance to the monitoring and evaluation of the project.
Mr. Leo L. Quintilla presented the one year of Kalahi CIDSS operation of KC Project in Aklan. Last year, the KC launched two guaranteed grants to the two municipalities of Libacao and Madalag. After six (6) months of implementation (with 24 priority sub projects), the two municipalities are now conducting their procurement to finally start the projects (roads, water system, bridges) to be done in the next six (6) months.
This project gives importance to the role of poor communities in local development and war against poverty. It emphasizes the role of the local government unit both provincial and the municipal levels to address poverty. “Effective local governance is a key to the development and progress of the area,” Quintilla pointed out.
KC is supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) amounting to $434 Philippine Compact. The project with the new five (5) guaranteed municipalities will cover 104 barangays with a total of P46,800,000 m. With this empowerment success, better roads, foot and hanging bridges will be put up to increase accessibility. School building, day care centers, health stations, water facilities and pre-and post service facilities will be provided.
Dr. Minda Brigoli, Regional VI DSWD Director led the MOA Signing. In her special message, she expressed happiness to share how KALAHI CIDSS strengthen the fight against poverty. She acknowledged the partnership of the Aklan Tri-media with Kalahi CIDSS and the successful partnership with the LGU’s where they showed enthusiasm to make the project faster and possible. “With KALAHI CIDSS, each one is important as we cooperate, communicate and collaborate,” she said.
Tangalan mayor Gene Fuentes in his reflection speech was very pleased for his municipality is finally included with KALAHI CIDSS program. He is now very excited to implement the project. He advised his fellow mayors to follow the process as it gives importance to bring the people closer to the government, to empower the people who are beneficiaries of the project. He challenged his fellow mayors to help uplift the life of the people in the Barangays through KALAHI CIDSS.
Tangalan is the 1st to comply with the conditionality of KC, Fuentes bragged, “KC is the best mechanism for internal control as the entire community is involved in making sure that the project is done according to plan, purpose and budget.”
After the MOA signing, pledge of commitment signing followed.
“With KC, the community will take control of the fund, the DSWD as the lead agency. The control of the resources is with the community, to empower them and not just give them to capacitate to decide, to analyze the situation and identify the solutions. The process of having control of the fund through the community and in enhancing the capacity of the local government – together, we will be able to address poverty,” Brigoli stressed.
KALAHI-CIDSS is a community driven development project where communities and their LGU’s are trained to choose, design and implement sub-projects that address their most pressing needs.
KALAHI-CIDSS aims to improve the responsiveness of local government to community needs, encourage com-munities to engage in development activities, and deliver benefits to barangay residents through the individual sub-projects expected to benefit over five million beneficiaries over the next 20 years. /MP
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