Officials and community members from six municipalities in Bohol and Cebu participated in the Operations and Maintenance Assessment from April 29 to May 6, 2025.

The activity aimed to identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement in sustaining KALAHI-CIDSS subprojects (SPs) previously rated as fair or poor in utilization, organization, institutional linkages, financial management, and physical condition.

A total of 16 staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7), through the KALAHI-CIDSS Regional Program Management Office and led by its Social Development Unit, conducted an operations and maintenance (O&M) assessment of completed income-generating subprojects (IGPs) using focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and enhanced surveys.

The RPMO Engineering team also conducted an actual spot check and visited the completed subprojects.

Participants included members of the Multi-Stakeholder Inspectorate Team, barangay officials, and members of the O&M groups from Loon, Dimiao, Loboc, Catigbian, and Antequera in Bohol, and Badian in Cebu.

In the KALAHI-CIDSS program, O&M groups play a critical role in ensuring the sustainability of IGPs turned over to communities. They are tasked to ensure the continued functionality, viability, and benefit delivery of these projects.

Some SPs rated as fair or poor in these municipalities comprise water systems, with Antequera also having a post-harvest facility.

Among the IGP evaluated were the water reservoir at Purok 1 in Barangay Quinapon-an operated and maintained by the Quinapon-an Water System Association, the multi-purpose pavement in Barangay Tagubaas operated and maintained by the Rural Improvement Club, the rehabilitation of Level III water system maintained by the Haguilanan Water System Association, and the improvement and repair of the water system at Barangay Cantaongon operated and maintained by the Cantaongon Farmers Association.

Observations, Recommendations

Respondents raised several concerns, including the lack of dedicated staff for monitoring subproject sustainability, insufficient barangay-level funding for critical repairs, misplaced project documents, the discontinuation of sustainability evaluations, the need for the reconstitution of the Multi-Stakeholder Inspectorate Team for these projects, and misconceptions about O&M accreditation.

Some members thought that after the association was registered, the municipal government would manage the subproject. This misunderstanding was quickly addressed by RPMO staff.

Meanwhile, Engr. Rolando Maravilla, Jr. said during inspection, they observed that subprojects remained functional, and the community recognized the core issue.

“There’s a clear understanding and recognition of the problem–the inadequacy of the water source during the dry season,” he said, noting that identifying this problem is a crucial first step toward finding a sustainable solution.

Among the solutions discussed is the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems, especially in areas with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Suggestions

The results presented during the feedback session will be packaged and relayed by the RPMO to the concerned municipal and barangay local government units and the O&M groups for action.

Lou Marie B. Jumamil, the Municipal Social Worker of Antequera, Bohol, welcomed the assessment results and expressed optimism in addressing these issues or concerns.

“We want to make the most of this activity and ensure that what we are doing now will not go to waste. That is why we are waiting for the packaged results,” Jumamil said in mixed English and Cebuano.

“The platform to present these findings will be through the ELA (Executive Legislative Agenda) meeting and the Local Project Monitoring Committees (LPMC) meeting, so the barangays will know that you truly gave us feedback,” she added. ###