The Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) of KALAHI-CIDSS in Central Visayas has reached halfway through its administering of the Participatory Organizational Capacity Assessment (POCA) in the region.

As presented during the Planning Workshop on POCA on May 22–23, 2025, 888 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) groups, or 50.89% of the 1,938 targets, have completed the assessment.

POCA is a tool to evaluate the capacity and training needs of community volunteers and members of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

Gaps, challenges

The area coordinators cited several challenges in implementing POCA, including a lack of supplies (such as internet connectivity), political conflict between the local government unit (LGU) and the O&M group, and adverse weather conditions.

Another reported challenge was the absence of a Municipal Coordinating Team in some LGUs, particularly in Loon, Bohol.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to welcome two new members of the RPMO team: the newly appointed Supervising Administrative Officer and Community Development Officer.

Good practices

Meanwhile, some areas shared effective strategies that helped fast-track their POCA implementation.

Notable practices included dividing the team and orienting all members of the Municipal Coordinating Team on the POCA process and procedures to ensure active participation during implementation.

They also developed skill in asking questions that generated multiple related responses and conducted weekly feedback sessions.

For KALAHI-CIDSS, the RPMO assigned other area coordinating teams (ACTs) to support other ACTs and enhance POCA implementation in other areas.

The RPMO aims to complete the conduct of POCA in June 2025. ###