Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte is one of the 23 municipalities in Region 8 which is implementing Community-Driven Development-Local Planning Process (CDD-LPP) Harmonization. The CDD-LPP aims to mainstream CDD principles and processes in the Local Development Planning (LDP) in their programs, projects and activities.
The Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Tomas Oppus started their Kalahi CIDSS implementation way back 2014, with the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) led by the Area Coordinating Team staff. NCDDP is the scaling up of CDD.
Now in the CDD-LPP Harmonization, the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) transitioned into Local Planning Process which heightened the roles of Local Government Unit as frontliners in the implementation. They now bring the lessons and experiences from the previous years of Kalahi CIDSS implementation to take the lead of the programs, projects and activities in the municipality and barangays.
For Tomas Oppus, being a 5th class municipality, it did not hinder local officials and community folks from operationalizing inclusive development in the locality. They believed that Community-Driven Development contributes to this inclusive development; the power of citizens to analyze and address development issues. Mayor Agustin Escano, Jr stated, “I believe so much in Community-Driven Development because it really improves the participation and involvement of the citizens most especially in decision-making. I am 100% for Community-Driven Development so we are continuing to preserve the CDD principles most especially now that the LGU is implementing the CDD-LPP Harmonization.”
The claim is supported by Felisa Esclamado, the Barangay Sub-Project Management Chairperson (BSPMC) of Brgy. Bogo, when she attested how CDD-LPP implementation intensified the LGU’s relationship with the communities, “ Ang LGU namin ay may mas alam o aware na sila sa mga problema talaga ng bawat pamayanan lalo na ngayon sa LGU-led implementation. Binibisita na nila kami at kinukumusta. Napalaking bagay ang Community-Driven Development sa pag-activate ng good local governance at empowerment.
[Our LGU has become more aware of the problems in each barangay especially during now that it is LGU-led implementation. Local officials often visit us in our communities. Community-Driven Development is a big opportunity to activate good local governance and empowerment.]”
During their Municipal Development Council- Participatory Resource Allocation (MDC-PRA) in December 3, 2018, only 5 out of 26 barangays have been prioritized for CDD-LPP Harmonization. With the Kalahi CIDSS grant of Php 7, 473,600.00, priorities identified were concreting of barangay road, construction of sea wall, and formulation of resettlement action plan cum site development and road access and clearing.
The LGU showed further support and assistance as it included the 26 unfunded sub-projects in the Municipal Development Plan for 2019. Three barangays out of 29 waived for the inclusion.
The LGU has supported these unfunded sub-projects because it came from the communities’ decision-making, specifically the results from Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA). It is also a way of LGU having an embracing arm to the CDD.
Municipal Area Coordinator Desiderio Malabad also said that “ This is an opportunity for us to encourage Community Development through Community-Driven Development. Since it is now LGU-led implementation, the MLGU and BLGU are ready to adopt CDD process through pushing for Participation, Transparency and Accountability.”
To date, Tomas Oppus had accomplished 44 sub-projects from Livelihood & Enterprise (L & E) and NCDDP from previous years of implementation.
In the LGU-led implementation, it is expected that they will implement the five sub-projects as soon as the fund is released to their community account and target to accomplish it all in June of this year as World Bank closes. As of this writing, the LGU is facilitating the documents for Request for Fund Release.