In a rundown of the key accomplishments of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) core anti-poverty program with its 21 years of existence, an agency official cited the impact of the program’s community-driven development (CDD) approach in promoting gender equality.
In the DSWD Thursday Media forum last October 10, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) National Program Manager (NPM) Director Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin said this is manifested in the active participation of women in identifying, designing, and implementing development projects to address poverty in their communities.
“Marami po sa kababaihan sa KALAHI-CIDSS ay kabilang sa paid labor. Ibig sabihin, may mga proyekto kung saan sila po yung nagma-mason, sila po yung nagpapala. Meron din tayong volunteers, pero meron din po tayong kasama po sa paid labor po na mga kababaihan. May 700,000 po yan na naging bahagi natin,” Director Mapue-Joaquin told reporters during the forum which was one of the side activities for the Bayani Ka! Awards for KALAHI-CIDSS volunteers and partners.
These women, who either serve as program volunteers or paid workers and laborers under the KALAHI-CIDSS’ cash-for-work (CFW) mechanism, continue to break down gender stereotypes, and usher their competence, according to Director Mapue-Joaquin.
Vice Mayor Dione Baucas of Buguias town in Benguet province lauded the program for empowering both men and women with their critical role in the oversight of poverty-reduction sub-projects under the KALAHI-CIDSS.
“No’ng dumating ang KALAHI, maraming naitulong sa amin. Nakita ko yung empowerment ng mga kababayan namin, lalo na yung mga babae, na dati-rati umaasa lang sa desisyon ng mga lalaki. Pero nung dumating yung KALAHI, nung may meeting sila, na-eempower sila” Vice Mayor Baucas pointed out.
Pacita Accad, a KALAHI CIDSS volunteer who spoke at the media forum said the KALAHI-CIDSS awakened her sense of responsibility for the community.
Also a nominee for this year’s Bayani Ka! Awards, the highest recognition given to KALAHI-CIDSS exemplary volunteers and partners, Pacita said the program led her to a bigger purpose in life, beyond the four-cornered walls of her household.
“Laking pasasalamat dahil hindi ko akalain na sa DSWD hindi pala sa mga bagay lang na mga personal na tulong ang binibigay. Kundi nung dumating ang KALAHI, dito ko naramdaman talaga ang pagiging volunteer, hindi mo na kailangang isipin pa yung pamilya. Iniisip ko na talaga yung kapakanan ng aking kabaranggay kasi unti-unti kong nakikita yung pag-unlad,” Pacita shared.
Pacita also saw this as an opportunity to give back to the DSWD and the community as a former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary.
“Sa pagiging volunteer, sabi ko sa sarili ko dito ko na ibabalik yung binigay ng DSWD sa pamilya ko sa pagiging volunteer sa community,” Pacita said.
The Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine government being implemented by the DSWD. It uses the CDD approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.
The CDD also contributes to women empowerment and gender equality, and opens up more opportunities for both men and women to improve their access and involvement to community development and nation building efforts.
Since its launch in 2003, the KALAHI CIDSS has provided basic social services to more than 23 million poor, vulnerable, marginalized, and geographically isolated households, through the 87,987 community projects.
These projects include access roads; improved water, electrification and lighting systems; medical supplies; tools and equipment; barangay health stations; and child development centers.
