Empowering communities, empowering women, this is what Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan, Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or Kalahi-CIDSS is all about.

The program has been improving the lives of the community people through education and training ordinary people especially women.  This because most of them are left in the house to take care of the children and do household chores.

When Kalahi-CIDSS started in 2014, these women have started to get involved and have actively participated in the activities in the barangay. The program has given them different perspective in life. Some of these women were shy and do not even want to open up and speak in public. Others were focused on their household chores. When they joined and started attending Kalahi-CIDSS seminars, they slowly came out of their shells.

“Maayo gyud nga ni boluntir ko kay aron madungagan ang akong kahibalo. Mapasalamaton ko sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS tungod kay gihatagan kami ug kahigayonan nga masuta ang panginahanglanon sa among barangay. Ug tungod sa among pag boluntir, napunduhan ug napaayo namo ang among karsada, (It is good that I joined as a community volunteer because I learned a lot. I am thankful to Kalahi-CIDSS because it has given me the opportunity to contribute something to my community by helping in the assessment of its needs. Through the volunteers’ efforts, our project was funded and we were able to repair our road),” expressed Josephine Naliza, Procurement Chairperson of Madua Norte, Duero, Bohol.

These seminars have brought changes to the women volunteers lives. It has gained them confidence because their voices were now heard especially in the decision making in the community.

“Dako kayo kinig na itampo sa akong kinabuhi, nadugangan ang akong kahibalo, nagamit usab nako ang experience nako sa pagka volunteer sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa akong pagka barangay kagawad. Tungod ana, nakita sa mga taw ang akong ka aktibo sa kalihukan sa barangay (My experience with Kalahi-CIDSS has a great impact in my life. It helps me win the election. I ran for barangay councilor because people have seen my active participation in barangay affairs and my potential as a leader),” related Isidra O. Caybot, a former community volunteer now barangay kagawad of Libjo Sikatuna, Bohol

Isidra is just one of the many community volunteers of Kalahi-CIDSS turned Barangay officials, who is considered as a walking proof of the success of the program.

In Region VII, there are already 54,857 female community volunteers. 63% of the women attend of the Barangay Assemblies. Out of the total female community volunteers 1,136 were trained female laborers who are also under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The program did not only provide these women a venue to express their thoughts and opinions but it also gave these women opportunities. Some of them are now employed in the local government Unit. Others are elected as barangay officials while there are those who are elected as leaders just like Isidra and Josephine. ###

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