The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) held its monthly tactic session for Municipal Monitors (MMs) and Municipal Area Coordinators (MACs) to ensure the operations and maintenance of completed sub-projects for the municipalities under the Makamasang Tugon modality.

These municipalities are: Naval, Cabucgayan, La Paz, Julita, Mayorga, Tabontabon, Leyte-leyte, San Isidro, Leyte, Tabango, Kananga, Bato, Javier, Mahaplag, Paranas, Villareal, Tarangnan, Sta. Margarita and Pibacdao – all are funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) through the Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P).

The main objective of the meeting was to give inputs to the MMs and MACs of the above-mentioned municipalities on the operations and maintenance (O & M) of completed sub-projects.

“The Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) through the Social Development Unit (SDU) conducts this kind of activity as a capacity-building to ensure that the operations and maintenance of completed sub-projects in Kalahi-CIDSS areas are managed by capable individuals”, said Solomon Faller, Jr., Deputy Regional Community Development Specialist (RCDS). He added that after the training, the MMs and MACs will also capacitate the operations and maintenance committee that will be formed in the barangays.

The Operations and Maintenance Committee will be in-charge in the implementation of the O & M Plan, which is the expected output of the participants of the training. The committee will also be in-charge in the monitoring of the proposed sub-projects at the barangay level. Through proper operation and timely maintenance, there is a guarantee of sustainability of project benefits by the beneficiaries.

Kalahi-CIDSS is an anti-poverty project of the government spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It aims to empower the community, improve local governance, and reduce poverty.