The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its premier community empowerment program, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).
KALAHI-CIDSS is a program that uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach to reduce poverty and promote empowerment and community volunteerism.
Launched in 2003, the program actively involves community members in fostering inclusive local governance by encouraging their participation in identifying and implementing development programs. These initiatives are specifically tailored to address the unique needs of their community and enhance their access to essential services.
The milestone event, banners the theme, “Sandiwaan” or interconnection, which was emphasized in the message of Secretary Rex Gatchalian delivered by Undersecretary for Operations Group Monina Josefina Romualdez.
“Sandiwaan unveils the intricate interconnections woven into the fabric of our society, particularly within the context of KALAHI-CIDSS. It recognizes that the experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by individuals within the KALAHI-CIDSS framework are not isolated. They are part of a larger, interconnected web. This interdependence signifies that the progress of our communities resonates across the entire network, emphasizing the ripple effect of our collective actions,” Gatchalian said in his message.
“In embracing Sandiwaan, KALAHI-CIDSS recognizes that the strength of the whole is derived from the vitality of its individual parts. It emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts and shared responsibility in sustaining the positive impact of community-driven development,” he added.
The program recognized CDD champions composed of local chief executives, legislators, development partners, community volunteers, and former DSWD key officials, including the late DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, represented by her son Sandino Soliman.
Other DSWD executives present in the event were Undersecretaries Denise Florence Bernos-Bragas and Edward Justine Orden; Assistant Secretaries Florentino Loyola Jr., Arnel Garcia, Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, and Janet Armas.
As of October 2023, KALAHI-CIDSS has completed more than 76,000 community sub-projects, engaged more than 2.4 million community volunteers, and reached more than 22 million households since the program’s inception.
KALAHI-CIDSS is currently engaging with stakeholders and policy-makers to institutionalize the CDD strategy in local development and governance processes.
