MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — “Sa KALAHI, gamay ang pondo, dako ang agi!” (In KALAHI, the budget is small, but the impact is big!) says outgoing Mayor Samuel Parojinog of Tudela, Misamis Occidental, reflecting his view on the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program.
Since 2015, Parojinog has supported KALAHI-CIDSS as an essential tool to complement the local government unit’s (LGU) resources, which has led to valuable lessons and good practices through its Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.
Over the past decade, KALAHI-CIDSS has funded 121 subprojects that address infrastructure and development needs, particularly in Indigenous communities. The Tudela LGU has shown strong support by meeting its financial commitments, contributing over P15 million to KALAHI-CIDSS community grants.
The LGU has also provided a counterpart team to work with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), offered office space, and provided logistical and technical support to ensure the smooth implementation of projects.
A key practice in Tudela is the Municipal Stakeholders Inspectorate Team (MSIT), which conducts annual Sustainability Evaluations (SE) to assess the long-term impact of KALAHI-funded projects. This ensures that completed subprojects continue to benefit the community.
The LGU also monitors Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) managing income-generating subprojects, providing assistance for capacity building and marketing.
An example of this support is the Weaving Center in Barangay Buenavista, operated by Subanen women. The LGU has helped position the center as a supplier for the Pasalubong Center in the province.
“Nalipay mi nga maka assist pod ang LGU sa amo, labi na sa marketing sa among mga produkto,” said Bae Ester Acla, president of the association.
(We are happy that the LGU is also able to assist us, especially in marketing our products,)
To further institutionalize CDD, Tudela passed Municipal Ordinance No. 23-16, requiring all project proponents to conduct public hearings. This ensures that communities are involved in decision-making and project implementation.
This year, Tudela begins its LGU-led CDD program. With guidance from the Municipal Coordinating Team, 25 barangays are committed to using the CDD approach for development projects. The barangays have allocated P8 million from their development funds, while the municipal LGU has committed P955,000 in cash and P3.9 million in in-kind contributions. This strong commitment reflects the LGU’s belief in CDD as a tool for inclusive development and community empowerment. (DSWD-10/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
