SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — Members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of Brgy. Monteclaro and Naibuan recently underwent a government procurement process workshop led by the DSWD Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA) project.
The workshop aims to prepare the participants for the government procurement process that will be used for the KALAHI sub-project in their respective barangays.
KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA is one of the poverty-alleviation programs of the government that uses a community-driven development (CDD) approach where the beneficiaries, called community volunteers (CV), take charge of the sub-project from the decision-making, planning, and execution, including the procurement process.
However, the funds for the sub-projects for Barangay Monteclaro and Naibuan are from the government’s funds. Due to this, all aspects of the sub-project will be handled by the CVs, except the procurement. Consequently, the procurement process that will be used is based on the Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Ang pondo ay galing sa gobyerno, kaya ang gagamiting procurement ay procurement ng gobyerno pero ang buong process [para sa sub-project], CDD siya. Invited sila (CVs) as end-user, pero ang power ng procurement ay nasa BAC [members] ng barangay,” Engr. Villamor C. Racca Jr. of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA explained.
(The funds are from the government, so the government procurement process will be used but the whole process for the sub-project is CDD. The CVs are invited as end-users, but the power of procurement will be on the Barangay BAC members.)
He added that this will also help fulfill one of the goals of KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA, to train the officials of the barangays in good governance.
Marlon T. Mayo, who is serving as the BAC chairperson in Barangay Monteclaro, said that the workshop strengthened their teamwork as they learned their roles in the Competitive Bidding for Infrastructure mode of procurement.
“Marami [kaming] natutunan, kasi doon nakikita namin na…pwedeng mangyari yung mga hindi namin alam. So ngayon, alam na namin tulad niyan ‘yong project kung paano siya i-bid, ‘yong proseso hindi lang pala ganoon kabilis, step by step pala,” Mayo said.
He added that since he served in the barangay, he had never experienced a bidding type of procurement as their projects cost P49,000 below which does not require this process.
“Ito kasi first time lang rin naman namin, so para sa amin naging malaking…trophy na rin [sa amin] na at least natupad namin yung gusto naming mangyari [para sa barangay],” he said.
(This is our first time, so for us, this is a big achievement that we will be able to fulfill our plan for the barangay.)
Barangay Monteclaro and Naibuan both proposed to build an infrastructure in their community worth P1.2 million each which will serve as shelter for traveling Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and their produce, and meetinghouse. The fund comprised the KALAHI grant and in-kind donations from the municipal and barangay LGU.
DSWD MIMAROPA Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso reiterated during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on June 11 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, saying “Ang KALAHI po kasi, ito ay ang pagsasakapangyarihan ng ating mamamayan, kung saan, ang mamamayan ang siyang umiisip ng mga proyekto na makatutugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan.”
(KALAHI is the empowerment of the citizens where they are at the forefront of thinking of the project that will address their needs.)
He added that this is in contrast to the usual procedure where the government spearheads the process of problem-solving in the communities. The project teaches people to be proactive in finding solutions to challenges they face, with the KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA staff on the side to provide support and guidance. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
