Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian (File photo)

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday underscored the important roles of the local government units (LGUs) in improving access to basic services and enhancing the lives of the Filipino people through Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.

“Nagpatawag po kami ngayon ng mayors’ forum kasi gusto pa naming makinig ulit sa inyo. Ano pa ba yung gusto ninyong i-improve sa programa, ano pa yung pwedeng baguhin sa programa? (We called for the mayors’ forum today because we wanted to hear from you again. What else do you want to improve in the program, what else do you want to change in the program?),” Gatchalian said during the National Consultative Meeting with LCEs (local chief executives) at the SMX Convention Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Gatchalian, a former mayor of Valenzuela City, said he will continue to have dialogue with the LCEs through similar forum.

He said the LGUs can assist the national government in strengthening the implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS and improving the sub-projects under the program.

“Alam ninyo, noong kinuha ako ng presidente na sumama sa kanyang gabinete, isa sa parati nyang sinabi na importante ang ating local government units. Si President Marcos ay galing din sa hanay natin, naging gobernador, at alam nya na ang laban, kahit na anong laban – laban sa kahirapan, sa kagutuman, sa malnutrisyon, at sa pagdevelop ng ating lugar – kayo ang nasa forefront. Kaya importante ang boses ng ating local chief executives na kasama ngayon (You know, when the President took me in his cabinet, one thing he would always tell me is that the LGUs are important. President Marcos also came from our ranks being a former governor, and he knows the fight, whatever it is—against poverty, hunger, malnutrition and community development— you are at the forefront. So the voice of our local executives are important),” he added.

Gatchalian also expressed his gratitude to the LGUs as being part of the success of the program.

“Gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng implementers ng Kalahi-CIDSS na kasama natin dito dahil sa tagal ng tinakbo nitong programa, mas marami ang success stories at mas marami ang nagtagumpay (I’d like thank the implementers of Kalahi-CIDSS who are with us because within the duration of this program, there are more success stories and more have succeeded),” he said.

The LCEs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are implementing the Kalahi-CIDSS National Community Driven Development Program-Additional Financing (NCDDP-AF) and the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP).

The national consultative meeting was aimed at providing a venue for an interactive engagement with the implementing LGUs to discuss the project’s milestones, encountered challenges, issues and concerns, and ways forward to further enhance the program.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine government being implemented by the DSWD.

Employing community-driven development (CDD) as a strategy, Kalahi-CIDSS trains and engages communities together with their local governments (barangay and municipal) to choose, design and implement development projects to address their most pressing needs. (PNA)