The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) conducted a consultative meeting with the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of the nine (9) guaranteed municipalities on August 2, 2012 at the Apollo 101 training hall of Leyte Park Resort Hotel, Tacloban City.

Mayors and representatives coming from Western Samar municipalities participated in the event. The municipalities were Daram, Gandara, Matuginao, Motiong, Tagapul-an, Talalora, San Jose de Buan, Sto. Niño, and San Sebastian.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Nestor Ramos, the purpose of the consultation is to set the timelines according to the guidelines, re-visit the agreements, identify issues, problems and hindrances that may affect the project implementation, and find solutions to these concerns to manage and implement the project accordingly.

Ramos emphasized the need for the local executives to work closely with DSWD throughout the process. “It is important that we work together and support each other for the success of the implementation. Hawak-kamay tayo (We need to hold hands) because after all, Kalahi-CIDSS is not only the project of the DSWD or the municipality, it is the project of the community. DSWD can do nothing without the support of the LCEs”, Ramos said.

Among the issues and concerns raised during the meeting were how to fast track the requests for fund release (RFRs), the hauling cost of materials particularly in some barangays in San Jose de Buan, Daram and Motiong, the adoption of Kalahi-CIDSS staff to the topographic and geographic situation of the island municipality of Daram, the hydraulics of the water system sub-projects, and the delayed payments for the supplies and materials with the suppliers.

Regional Infrastructure Engineer Gerardo Peñeda said that requirements should be met first before endorsing to Central Office in order to fast track the release of funds for sub-project implementation.

Regional Project Coordinator Natividad Sequito added that the Community Facilitators (CFs) should see to it that the necessary documents for the RFR generation are already completed and thoroughly reviewed in the barangay level before they are forwarded to the Regional Office. She also suggested creating a new system and tightening the technical aspect in reviewing the documents.

ARD Ramos commented,” Why not maximize the involvement of the members of the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee (MIAC)? They play an important role in the RFR generation; they should review those documents intensively to minimize errors and fast track the fund release”.

Engineer Peñeda committed to complete the review of pending RFRs in the region within this month.

On the issue of payments for the supplies and materials, Deputy Regional Financial Analyst Sherryl Ann Salvatierra said, “We do not pay unless the supply is 100% delivered. The policy is strict on that and we have to follow certain guidelines”.

Being new to the program, it was the first time that Kalahi-CIDSS held a consultative meeting with the Local Chief Executives of the nine (9) guaranteed municipalities. The Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) is looking into the possibility of conducting similar activity after every two months to track the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) in the municipalities and to discuss and address issues and concerns.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a government project spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It uses the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach and aims to empower the community, improve local governance and reduce poverty.