Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro—As a celebration of the 4th National Community Driven Development month this June, DSWD Kalahi CIDSS MIMAROPA together with the LGU of Sablayan conducted an activity called “Pamumunong Makamasa” this June 26, 2018 in the town of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. The activity aimed to show the close coordination of the community and the LGU of Sablayan and to discuss the effectiveness of using the CDD strategy of Kalahi CIDSS in local governance.
Different department heads of Sablayan that constitutes the Municipal-Inter Agency Committee (MIAC) including Mayor Eduardo Gadiano, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Muriel Reguinding, Municipal Engineer Alfredo Sarona, Budget Officer Fe Santos and community volunteers of Kalahi CIDSS Barnagay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson Chritian Pedrozo, Project Implementation Team (PIT) head Carmela Marisga, and Brgy. Treasurer Gina Obtinalla participated in the activity.
The MIAC heads coached their community volunteer counterparts on their daily tasks as department heads. Municipal Engineer Sarona oriented PIT head Marisga on the daily tasks of a municipal engineer and taught her tips on how to effectively monitor and finish project implementation. According to Miss Marisga after their coaching session, “Napakahirap pala ng ginagawa ng municipal engineer at mas lalo ko na appreciate yung pag pagiging hands-on nya at pag sangguni sa amin sa tuwing nag paplano sa barangay.”
A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted after the activity wherein they shared the lessons they have learned from their counterparts. Mayor Gadiano shared his thoughts as he said in the discussion “kayang ma institutionalize ang proseso ng CDD sa kahit anong class ng munisipyo kung gugustuhin ng LGU dahil yung proseso ng participative process ay mahalaga para matukoy talaga yung pangangailangan ng isang bayan.” The discussion was proceeded with a signature campaign to adopt and institutionalize CDD on local governance in MIMAROPA.
Community-Driven Development is a strategy used by DSWD Kalahi CIDSS to ensure that the development priorities of a community are addressed in an inclusive, participatory, collective, and demand driven way. This is done through localized decision-making during social preparation activities and in the identification, development, prioritization, establishment, and operationalization of community projects. This strategy aims to empower the community, reduce local poverty, and promote good local governance. It also encourages volunteerism and bayanihan by encouraging people to get involved and work hand-in-hand with their LGUs towards the development of their community.
Through time since its inception, DSWD Kalahi CIDSS MIMAROPA encourages local government units in the MIMAROPA region to adopt/institutionalize the CDD strategy in their governance strategy. The Municipality of Sablayan is one of the first municipalities in the country and the pioneer in MIMAROPA to institutionalize the principles of CDD in their governance and development strategy.
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