The Local Government Unit of Tabontabon, Leyte has been unanimously chosen by the GAPAS Awards Committee as the National Model LGU Implementing Kalahi-CIDSS in this year’s DSWD PaNaTa Ko sa Bayan Awards held on March 8, 2018 at the DSWD Central Office, Quezon City.
The PaNaTa (Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon) Ko sa Bayan Awards acknowledges the efforts of the individuals, groups and organizations whose panata or vow is to share their resources, time and selves in providing better opportunities for disadvantaged sectors and for inclusive growth. The GAPAS Award is a sub-award conferred to DSWD partners and stakeholders. Specifically, it is a commendation given to exemplary Local Government Units implementing Kalahi-CIDSS in the Philippines.
Although considered as one of the poorest and smallest towns in the province of Leyte, LGU Tabontabon has demonstrated success in meeting key performance indicators in their Kalahi-CIDSS implementation. Said municipality has also exercise effective leadership as a champion Community-Driven Development (CDD) advocate through its adoption of Kalahi-CIDSS proccesses, thereby institutionalizing CDD.
“DSWD cannot fulfill its functions alone. We need the support of our partner stakeholders like the LGUs in implementing our programs and services. I congratulate LGU Tabontabon and our community volunteers for this national achievement”, said Regional Director Restituto Macuto
Last year, LGU Tabontabon was also recognized by DSWD Field Office VIII as 2017 Bayani Ka Regional Awardee for Best LGU Implementing Kalahi-CIDSS. With this award, the implementation leads to clear and promising outcomes on the empowerment of Tabontabon residents and on uplifting the well-being of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors in their communities.
A total of 36 Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects were constructed in Tabontabon under the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) Funding from 2014 to 2017. Most of these sub-projects are community infrastructure. But aside from the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, seven barangays underwent Capacity Building Training on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRM) plus disaster amenities, Family and Community Disaster Preparedness (FCDP) and First Aid, empowering communities to be disaster resilient.
“We have launched UNGARA (Wish) 2025 in June 2017 as our support to AMBISYON NATIN 2040 Program. LGU Tabontabon wish to increase the income of the poorest of the poor families. Kalahi-CIDSS has provided a stepping stone to achieving our wish through increase in community participation. We are institutionalizing Kalahi-CIDSS’ Community-Driven Development strategy within our local planning and budgeting. I know this is just the beginning but we are confident that we can achieve more because we have the support and participation of the people”, Mayor Balderian emphasized.
