ILOILO City – Since 2003, a total of P10.43 billion worth of projects — equivalent to 9,313 community projects — have been implemented in Western Visayas under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program.
Of the total project funding, P9.15 billion came from KALAHI-CIDSS grants, while P1.27 billion was contributed by local government units (LGUs) as counterpart funding.
According to DSWD Region 6 director Arwin Razo, these projects have significantly impacted communities. Around 3.7 million households benefited, 17,725 women were provided with labor opportunities, and 61,154 community volunteers were engaged.
“Since 2003, we have completed 9,313 projects amounting to P10.43 billion,” said Razo.
Diverse Community Projects
The projects covered a wide range of initiatives, including artificial coral reefs, barangay halls, drainage canals, health stations, footpaths, water systems, seawalls, roads, public markets, sanitary toilets, day care centers, and community centers, among others.
“These projects have significantly improved access to basic services for poor and disadvantaged communities,” Razo added, citing the construction of day care centers as an example. These centers provide a venue for early childhood development for children aged three to five years old.
Ensuring Project Success
To ensure the successful completion and functionality of these projects, the program established Municipal Project Management Committees as mandated by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). These committees oversee the implementation, ensuring that projects are operational and serve their intended purposes.
DSWD also provides capacity-building programs for LGUs and barangays to make these committees functional and sustainable.
National Milestones and Future Direction
Nationwide, since its launch in 2002, the KALAHI-CIDSS program has engaged 2.8 million community volunteers, implemented 91,385 subprojects, and allocated approximately P104.8 billion from foreign-assisted projects and local funds. These initiatives have benefited 24.39 million households across the country.
Last week, around 200 local chief executives (LCEs) and development partners convened in Iloilo City for the 2024 LCE Forum organized under the KALAHI-CIDSS program.
The forum focused on discussions about Community-Driven Development (CDD) and community resilience. It also provided a platform for LCEs to evaluate the outcomes of CDD subprojects in their communities, assess their impacts, and explore potential enhancements.
During the forum, the DSWD introduced a new initiative — the Philippine Community Resilience Project, also known as “Panahon ng Pagkilos.” This successor program aims to focus on strengthening community resilience./PN
