Pasig City, Metro Manila- The Local Chief Executives of the town of Araceli, Cagayancillo, and Magsaysay, Palawan; Banton, Calatrava, and Looc, Romblon; Gloria, Oriental Mindoro; and Sablayan Occidental Mindoro attended the DSWD Kalahi CIDSS MIMAROPA’s Pre-Engagement Consultation Workshop with the Local Government Units on Thematic Community-Driven Developmet (CDD) Pilot Project Implementation last July 17-19, 2018 at the Linden Suites in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

The Thematic CDD is a new pilot project of DSWD Kalahi CIDSS wherein the LGUs will select a concept based on their development plans in which they will incorporate the process of CDD to the chosen theme that they will implement.

Hon. Noel Beronio of Araceli, Palawan, Hon. Rommel Dela Torre of Magsaysay, Palawan, Hon. Joseph Fadri of Banton Romblon, Hon. Marieta Babera of Calatrava, Romblon; Hon. Leila Arboleda of Looc, Romblon; Hon. German ROdegerio of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro; and Hon. Eduardo Gadiano of Sablayan Occidental Mindoro attended the said activity together with their LGU delegations which consist of Sangguniang Bayan member for Appropriations, Association of Barangay Captain President, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, and the Municipal Area Coordinator.

The three-day activity provided a comprehensive orientation on Thematic CDD and has also discussed and aswered the queries and concerns of the LGUs regarding its implementation of the Thematic CDD and the concepts selected by LGUs to implement in their municipalities.

Engr. Marvin Trillana discussed the Participatory WASH implementation of Cagayancillo

On the first day, Regional Community Development Specialist (RCDS) Ma. Claire Panganiban presented the Thematic CDD and its

implementation timeline. RCDS Panganiban presented the three main themes that the LGUs can gear their concepts to: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Sustainable Livelihood, and Sustainable Eco-Tourism. Afterwards, the LGUs, together with the Area Coordinators planned and discuss among themsel

ves the possible concepts that they will implement in their town.

On the morning of the second day, three resource speakers where invited to provide inputs on Sustainable Livelihood and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Mr. Louie Mencias, Training Director of Blue Water Consultancy

discussed and provided his expert inputs on community based eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood. More so, Miss Jing Ocampo from Compassion International and Mr. Marvin Trillana, Community Infrastructure Officer of Palawan Cluster, discussed and shared their expertise on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Hon. Noel Beronio discusses to the plenary their Thematic CDD concept on DRRM geared on community resiliency

The LGUs sat with their team and with the DSWD Kalahi CIDSS consultants and with the invited resource speakers to polish their concept notes. On the morning of July 19, the LGUs presented the Thematic CDD concepts they have agreed to implement:

• DRRM geared towards community resiliency: Araceli and Magsaysay, Palwan and Banton Romblon
• DRRM geared on community solid waste management: Gloria, Oriental Mindoro and Sablayan
• Community-based Participatory WASH implementation: Cagayancillo, Palawan
• Sustainable Livelihood through Community-based Eco-tourism: Calatrava, Romblon

The concepts presented by the LGU were yet to be approved by the National Program Management Office of Kalahi CIDSS.

After the presentation of the concepts, the LGUs signed their commitment to a more inclusive and participatory local governance through the used of Kalahi CIDSS’ CDD strategy.

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.

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Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro—As a celebration of the 4^th 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.”

Hon. Eduardo Gadiano sign his pledge to support the campaign towards institutionalization of the CDD process.

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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Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro—The Human Chain Activity was a successful endeavor. Almost 2,500 people from different Mangyan Sub-Tribes, community volunteers, Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, Kalahi CIDSS staff from Regional and National Program Management Office, Municipal Staff, civil society organizations, students, and people from the neighboring town of Sablayan have passed-on sacks of aggregates on the mountainous terrain of Sitio Nalwak to reach Sitio Bambanay.

The Human Chain Activity was organized by the Municipal Action Team of DSWD Magsaysay Occidental Mindoro together with the Local Government Unit for the benefit of the Mangyan communities in Sitio Bambanay. The goal of the activity is to deliver aggregates to be used for the construction of the foot trail Sub-Project identified by the IPs in Sitio Bambanay as their most pressing need. This will come in fruition through the “bayanihan” strategy where the people would line-up from Sitio Nalwak up to Sitio Bambanay and would pass sacks of aggregates The activity started from 5 in the morning until 11 in the morning.

The distance between Sitio Nalwak and Sitio Bambanay stretches around 2.7 km on a mountainous terrain. There were 20 stations wherein one station stretches to 135 meters.

Hand-in-hand, side by side– No Filipino is left behind as the people of Magsaysay and Sablayan helped the IP group of Mangyan in transporting the aggregates that will be used for the access road sub-project proposed by the community to be funded by Kalahi CIDSS

The stations began at station zero (0) where pantawid women beneficiaries put aggregates in the sacks and pass it to people positioned at station zero (0) until it reached station twenty. The furthest that the aggregates reached int he half day activity was at station ten (10). However, Area coordinator Rosalie Frane said she is grateful that people have gathered to help to show their support to the IP community.

On the other hand, almost 80 individuals from the neighboring town of Sablayan headed by Hon. Eduardo Gadiano participated in the Human Chain Activity as they were transported by four large municipal trucks. Community Volunteers from Sablayan has expressed joy knowing they are able to help their co-volunteers
from Magsaysay. “Kahit nakakapagod ay masaya kami dahil nakatulong kami sa mga kapwa naming volunteer at sa mga kapatid naming Mangyan rin.” Said Dionisio Recente, a Kalahi CIDSS Voluteer from Sablayan.

Hon. Fajardo and Hon. Gadiano climbed the difficult terrain going to the Sitio Bambanay to personally see the situation of the IPs in the community. Hon. Gadiano then pledged to give solar panels to the community and Hon. Fajardo pledged to give a multi-cab emergency tricycle for easy transport of people and products.
The foot trail will respond to the main problems identified by the IPs which is transporting their sick to barangay proper and evacuation of the people during times of calamity.
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