The blessing and turnover of five isolation facilities in Getafe, Bohol, on January 25, 2023, is a result of the convergence among community volunteers from different barangays who completed the sub-projects worth Php 21.4 million funded by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of DSWD Field Office VII.

As an empowerment program, KALAHI-CIDSS invites everyone in the community to take part in the local planning process, such as the community-driven development strategy being used by the program. Through this, members of the community are given a platform to voice their utmost needs, hear from them what kinds of solutions will best respond to them, and work on them by following an accountable and transparent process.

In the town of Getafe, barangay communities identified an isolation facility with amenities, medical tools, and equipment as their priority since they have limited access to health facilities that will cater to patients with infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Members of the community, together with local officials, decided to situate the facilities in different locations: Poblacion, Campao Oriental, Tulang, Jandayan Sur, and Alumar.

According to one of the volunteers who presented the accountability and transparency report of the project during the turnover, they are no longer afraid that COVID-19 might hit their town because they already have their own facilities that they can use.

While there are no reported cases of COVID-19 in the town, Municipal Mayor Cary M. Camacho will explore the possibilities of partnering with the Department of Health in terms of converting the facilities into health stations where basic medical care can be accessed by his constituents.

He and the rest of the local officials in Getafe pledged to continue supporting the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS as well as other DSWD programs and services so that the people of Getafe will continue to benefit from the social welfare projects of the agency.

The Getafe local government unit provided a total counterpart contribution of Php 4.4 million to realize the projects. This is an important indicator of support for the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS.

 Meanwhile, a member of the procurement team, Brgy. Tulang Cristie Pacaldo, says that her experience as a volunteer for KALAHI-CIDSS is a joy and the best experience of her life. “Kalipay ang akong ipaambit ngadto sa akong mga kauban nga boluntir nga nahuman na gyud ang proyekto para sa akong komunidad. Proud ko sa akong experience kay nakat-on ko pag-implement og proyekto (I am sharing this happiness with my fellow volunteers that the project for our community has finally been completed. I am proud of my experience as a volunteer because I learned to implement a project like this),” she said.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Juanito C. Cantero, who led the inauguration, pointed out the importance of convergence, commitment, and the call for more volunteers in the town. “Gihulagway niining panagtapok ang kalamposan ug kadaugan nga atong naangkon pinasikad sa pagtinabangay sa local nga kagamhanan og ordinaryong lungsoranon. Magdugang unta kini og kadasig sa matag usa nga magpadayon sa tahas nga gihatag kanila paingon sa kalamboan (This gathering is a testament to the success achieved by the cooperation of the local government unit and members of our community. May this give everyone the motivation to continue the work towards development),” said the director.

The convergence brought by KALAHI-CIDSS to the communities of Getafe is proof that community-driven development is an effective strategy for meeting people’s needs, bringing them together, and working together to shape a developed and better community. ###

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