On October 26, 2021, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) commenced a series of inter-agency council meetings in partner municipalities of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

The Disaster Response Operations Modality (DROM) of KALAHI-CIDSS will augment the resources and help respond to the effects of the COVID-19 in the community. KALAHI-CIDSS activated the councils through meetings with local officials and municipal inter-agency councils representing health, development, and engineering sectors.

Partner areas provide an overview of the current pandemic situation in their locality and the initiatives done in response to the ongoing health emergency. It gives the local government units the opportunity to align their development plans with the KALAHI-CIDSS.

In Bohol, Buenavista Municipal Planning and Development Council Officer Efren N. Logrono reiterated to local officials and sector heads the importance of the council meeting. He said “Kini atong gitambungan karon naghatag natong tanan og oportunidad nga moapil sa pagpili og mga proyekto nga moabag kanato sa paggamit sa mga kahimanan sa katawhan, mao kini ang tuyo sa programa – paghatag og gahom sa katawhan (This community exercise provides everyone the opportunity to participate in the identification of projects that will best augment the resources of our people, the real essence of the program – community empowerment).”

During the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council (MDRRMC) meetings, DSWD-7 presented that assistance comes from the Additional Financing of KALAHI-CIDSS.

Simultaneous meetings are done to discuss the possible sub-projects to be prioritized, funded, and implemented while introducing a comprehensive plan for development before going down to different communities.

They are but not limited to isolation facilities, health stations, water systems, roads, and disaster or pandemic response equipment.

Next to be done are meetings with community members at the barangay level to harmonize their ideas and propose a priority project based on need during this pandemic. ###

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