FOCAR_KALAHI-CIDSS_Compendium2016_final2

KalahiSerye 2016
2016

Kalahi
Serye
Production Team
Writers
Jasmin Kiaso
Phylein Maria Rosette Callangan
Mark Erik King Guanzon
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
Contributors
Aprilla Camilot
June Tay-og
Azriel Dolo
Photo Contributors
Buguias Area Coordinating Team
Atok Area Coordinating Team
Pasil Area Coordinating Team
Tubo Area Coordinating Team
Kabugao Area Coordinating Team
Lagangilang Area Coordinating Team
Tadian Area Coordinating Team
Bakun Municipal Area Coordinating Team
Irene Pongas
Florence Batawang
Managing Editor
Jasmin Kiaso
2016
About
the Cover
KEEPING THINGS FLOWING. Digitally
painted, the picture depicts of a better future for
the generations to come.
Like the flowing water, the DSWD Kalahi-
CIDSS and its partner communities are moving
together to realize this dream. By establishing a
process where communities are the main drivers
of their own development, the department is
confident that this will help them achieve a better
life.
Here’s also to hoping that our beloved
Cordillera communities will be able to lobby for
their development needs.
This compendium of stories focusing on the Kalahi-
CIDSS Program is written and reproduced by the Social
Marketing Unit of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region.
Senior Editors
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
Janet P. Armas

Kalahi Serye2016
Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
2016 Kalahi-CIDSS Compendium

TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Title
About Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP
Messages
ii
iii
v
Asipulo Celebrates Community-Driven Development During Their Fiesta 1
Of Coffee Trees and Pasil’s Coffee Culture 5
New Hope Flows For Farmers in an Abra Village 9
What is Community-Driven Development (CDD)? 13
Galdang Fall Protection: Building a Link Toward Clean and Green Environment 15
Bridging Claypots 19
Championing Gender and Development 21
Keeping “Alluyon” Alive 23
Moving out from the shackles of poverty in the countryside 25
Josel’s Chronicle of Service with a Heart 29
Multi-awarded i-Benguet sparks inspiration as Kalahi volunteer 33
Citizens Wanted: The Role Of BLGU In Community-Led Development 37
Tayo ang mga Bayani, Tayong Lahat Mag-Kalahi 41
Milling with Ease 45
Bayanihan In Snaps 47
Deformity brings the Great Carpenter within Manong Floro 49
Building Capacities: First Step to Empowering Volunteers 53
Bringing Products Closer to the Market 57
Moving as One 59
More than Just a Mother 61
Building Skills, Buidling Dreams 64
From Poverty to Opportunity 67
Learning from Each Other 69
Bakun Residents Use Wages to Lengthen Road 73
Tadian Completes 5M Worth of Community projects 74
Kalahi Volunteers Trained on Disaster Management 75
Kalahi-CIDSS Coverage in the Cordillera 76
Listahanan: Number of Poor in the Cordillera 77
DSWD 2016: Gearing Towards Ambisyon 2040 79

About the Title
KalahiSerye is a blend word conceptualized as a title of the advocacy series of DSWD-CAR in print and
broadcast media. It merges one acronym: Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services), the name of the program and from the word serye, series. Like a TeleSerye,
KalahiSerye brings to life stories of individuals and communities on their quest to actively participate towards
achieving the change in their respective communities.
The stories highlight lessons learned, challenges and joy that came along their journey towards realizing
their full potential as individuals and communities.
Bagtayan, Pasil, Kalinga
KALAHISerye 2016||
ii

About Kalahi-CIDSS
Kalahi-CIDSS, otherwise known as the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery
of Social Services, is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine Government being implemented by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It uses the community-driven development (CDD) approach,
a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.
Started in 2003, its scale-up was approved on 18 January 2013 by the National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA) Board, which was headed by President Benigno Aquino III.
CDD:
• Helps communities in poor municipalities identify challenges around reducing poverty and make
informed decisions on a range of locally identified options for development, including how this is made
and in what form;
• Gives control of resources to address local poverty to communities; and
• Builds the capacity of both state (including local governments) and civil society stakeholders to provide
assistance and respond to calls for support from poor communities as they implement development
initiatives.
The development objective of Kalahi-CIDSS is to have barangays/communities of targeted municipalities
become empowered to achieve improved access to services and to participate in more inclusive local
planning, budgeting, and implementation.
KALAHISerye 2016|| iii

Lengaoan, Buguias, Benguet
KALAHISerye 2016||
iv

MESSAGES
The Kalahi-CIDSS project is a proof that grassroots centered
development is a positive way in addressing the issues of rural
communities that are too often neglected because of geogprahical
terrain and limited budget.
Featured in the pages of this material are stories of empowered
communities who took upon themselves the task of building their
dreams of a sustainably developed community. The participation of
each member of the community led to a more dynamic process with
the voices of the different sectors being heard. The retelling of history
also rekindled their camaraderie and passion to work as a community.
The work that has to be undertaken prior to the cutting of ribbons
or turn-over of key of responsibilities is unarguably tedious. Recipient
communities are socially equipped through countless seminars, trainings
and meetings. The long process makes the completion of the project
even more meaningful as it symbolizes unity and the collective desire of
communities to succeed.
KALAHISerye 2016|| v
This serye is a testament that the people, when given the right tools
and necessary knowledge can create the building blocks that they need
to achieve development. Yes, the projects are basic, from pathways to
health centers, but these are the first steps that inspire communities
to make bigger and bolder steps especially in ensuring that they
partner with the local government in bringing development to their
communities.
JANET P. ARMAS
Director III/OIC-Regional Director

MESSAGES
Years after its first implementation, the Kalahi-CIDSS program
has already helped hone communities out of poverty by mobilizing
volunteers who are driven in reaching the same goal: better life for all.
DSWD pushed its partner communities to work together for their
development which includes structures and road improvements which
lead to easier access to basic resources, conducive learning facilities for
students, potable water, and safe crossways.
These are products of partnership with volunteers who have
passion for transformation. Their personal stories in their collective
efforts for the development of their communities are commendable.
In this compendium, we present these stories as inspiration
for those who believe that there is still hope in adversity as long as
unity binds a community’s diversity. These stories serve as ripples of the
goodness and volunteerism these people have shared and contributed
towards development. We hope that these will be read throughout
generations to come.
For all our community partners and supporters, all gratitude
belongs to you. Let us all continue to keep the spark of volunteerism
and good work until we gain genuine and sustainable development in
all communities across the region and the country as well.
MARYGRAIL B. DONG-AS
OIC Assistant Regional Director-Operations
KALAHISerye 2016||
vi

MESSAGES
The implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS Program has continued as
planned. There are challenges met along the way but the most important
for us is achieving our development objectives.
To empower communities, improve local governance and eventually
slowly reduce poverty; these are the things that we hold on to as we
serve our communities. Our clients and partners provided us strength
to continue serving with them.
The stories in this book prove that we are on the right track and
that our efforts are not being put to waste. Our development objectives
that we are working hard to achieve are reflected in the lives of our
beneficiaries at the same time partners.
IMELDA N. TUGUINAY
Deputy Regional Program Manager
Kalahi-CIDSS
KALAHISerye 2016|| vii

A WALK TO REMEMBER
Our walk with all our partner
communities was a lot more meaningful
because we all did our best to achieve
a shared dream of developing our own
localities from within. The moment we
joined hands, we knew that whatever
the result of our actions will be a
shared responsibility between and
among us. Our sama-samang pagkilos
is definitely worth remembering.
Taken at Bangaan, Sagada, Mountain
Province with Mr. Leonard Omileng
walking through the community
footpath - a Kalahi-CIDSS Sub-Project
KALAHISerye 2016||
viii

KALAHI CIDSS 2016
Culture and Development
Asipulo Celebrates
Community-driven Development
During their Fiesta
Jasmin P. Kiaso
The town fiesta is celebrated annually every April originally to commemorate the
noble achievements of their ancestors. Previously, the Kulpi is celebrated for a
fruitful and bountiful rice harvest and show of cultural customs and traditions of the
Ifugaos. Now, it has evolved to include the celebration of their efforts, achievements
and dreams as a community.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 1

E
very year, the municipality of Asipulo, Ifugao
celebrates their town fiesta called Kulpi’d Asipulo
by showcasing their culture and tradition. But
this year, there’s a twist in this town’s usual
celebration as they incorporated their triumph in
community-driven development.
With the theme “Celebrating culture and
community development,” Benilda E. Redaja,
National Project Manager of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery
of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) graced the event
as the keynote speaker.
Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty reduction program of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development
that uses the community-driven development
(CDD) approach in implementing projects.
THE “LITTLE PEOPLE” AND CDD
As part of the celebration, Redaja visited
Barangay Nungawa where she went for a road
trip and a ceremonial marker installation to the
completed Amduntog-Duit core road improvement
which was built through the volunteerism of the
villagers.
She also listened to the stories of struggles and
successes of the villagers on community-driven
development. Describing Nungawa, she said that
more than the physical structure they built, they
also “stand tall for their indomitable spirit when
they fought hard to gain both voice and vote” to
be prioritized for the Kalahi-CIDSS projects.
Salcedo Pugong, a sixty-year old veteran
described his people as “little people” to mean
a humble village with small population. The
barangay has 607 residents with 112 households.
Lakay Salcedo defined his experience with a
community-driven development program as life
changing. He expressed that they nearly quit on
Kalahi-CIDSS because of its tedious procedures.
However, while thinking of changing the course
of their lives, they persevered and sacrificed to
complete 6 cycles with Kalahi-CIDSS.
Further, Celia Dulnuan, one of the women
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KALAHISerye 2016|| 3
volunteers shared that she could now wear her
shoes and high heeled sandals to attend meetings
and social events. With the paved roads and
pathways in her barangay, she observed that
hauling of vegetables became easier and faster.
For Celia, the FMR has helped reduce the
hauling cost of vegetables and the need for middle
men. Now, they can directly deliver their produce
in Bambang, Nueva Viscaya which positively
increased their income.
After listening to their testimonies, Redaja
remarked “I thought that there is nothing small
about these people who have known too much
deprivation and yet have refused to give up. There
is nothing small about their acts of generosity
when they give their time and energy to build
these beautiful roads that will be their pathway to
more opportunities.”
THE KULPI’D ASIPULO
The town fiesta is celebrated annually every April
originally to commemorate the noble achievements
of their ancestors. Previously, the Kulpi is celebrated
for a fruitful and bountiful rice harvest and show
of cultural customs and traditions of the Ifugaos.
Now, it has evolved to include the celebration of
their efforts, achievements and dreams to lead
their own progress.
The Kulpi included contests on indigenous
games, booth, cultural parade and cultural
extravaganza.
In her message during the event, Redaja said
“the paved roads are a testament of your hard
work and the triumph of your participation. I
am privileged to have witnessed this important
milestone in the life of a village in Asipulo (referring
to Barangay Nungawa).”
“Your stories are an inspiration for those of us
in government who share your dream of a better
life,” she continued.
As part of the Kulpi, a ceremonial marker
installation at six sub-projects in the municipality
was conducted. Together with representatives
from the National and Regional Program
Management Office of Kalahi CIDSS and Provincial
Local Government Unit, the Municipal Local
Government Unit led a road trip and interaction
with community volunteers.
The sub-projects were also turned over to the
Barangay Local Government Units.
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CDD
APPROACH
In 2013, through the leadership of
Mayor Armando Domilod, the municipality
institutionalized the community-driven
development approach through Executive Order
number 14 organizing the Community-Driven
Development and Poverty Alleviation Program also
called Pan-Aamungan (convergence) Program.
In line with this is the creation of a working
structure which comprised the municipal
inter-agency coordinators with the mayor as
the program manager. With the inclusion of
Infrastructure Development Technical Assistants,
Roving Bookeeper and Community Facilitators in
the working structure, the municipality hired job
order personnel to fill these positions.
As a municipality with good performance
record having institutionalized CDD, they received
19 million incentive grant from Kalahi-CIDSS
Millennium Challenge Corporation to implement
six sub-projects in 2016.
As of now, Asipulo is the only municipality in
the Cordillera that institutionalized the communitydriven
development process.

ENJOY AND COMPETE. With a competitive prize on the line, each barangay
sent their best players for the indigenous games and their best singers and
dancers for the cultural extravanganza to participate on various activities
during the Kulpi. The barangay who garners the highest score is given a
prize in the form of a community project.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 4

KALAHI CIDSS 2016
Culture and Development
of coffee trees and
pasil’s coffee culture
Jasmin P. Kiaso with Joan Banag
Barangay Pugong became an example of a community who did not only
target infrastructure development but have considered other factors such
as environmental and cultural conservation.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 5

T
he municipality of Pasil is known for their
coffee production aside from heirloom rice
prodcution, both of which are in demand in
the local and national market.
Since it is a coffee producing town, a visitor
would get more than enough of coffee as every
house have their thermos-filled coffee always
ready. As a sign of their hospitality, they would
always serve coffee which they harvested from
their own backyard, and roasted and brewed at
their homes.
A visitor is expected to drink the coffee being
served as sign of accepting their generosity and
friendliness.
No one can question the people’s love for
coffee in this town as this is deeply rooted in their
culture.
In Barangay Pugong, the construction of
the access road under the Kapit-bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery
of Social Services (Kalahi CIDSS) did not mean
cutting the coffee trees and other trees along the
sub-project site.
This was fully protected by the community as
they worked on the project. Instead of using heavy
equipment, the community opted to manually
excavate and haul the soil even if it meant harder
and longer work.
“We wanted to protect and lessen the damages
to the coffee trees and other trees which might
be harmed during the excavation,” Peter Diwayan,
a Community Volunteer and Barangay Kagawad
said in vernacular.
He claimed that their coffee produce is
decreasing each year thus they have to take care
of the productive coffee trees. A coffee tree would
take three to five years to mature and bear fruit.
“Bumasbassit tadta ti apit isunga kasapulan mi met
lang nga agreserve ti pangmaysa nga tawen koma (our
KALAHISerye 2016|| 6
page 05 KALAHISerye 2016

[coffee] production is decreasing now that’s why
we need to store for our consumption for a whole
year if possible),” Diwayan added.
For Barangay Pugong, the coffee trees and the
environment is as important as constructing an
access road or any infrastructure.
Pugong is one of the fourteen barangays of
the municipality of Pasil. It is one of the nearest
barangay from the Municipal Hall. However it is
not reachable by any means of transportation
because of the lack of access road. It would
require a 20-minute hike through the footpath,
another Kalahi-CIDSS sub-project funded under
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to reach
the town center.
For years, the residents could not construct a
concrete house because of the high cost of hauling
materials. The residents need to pay 40 pesos per
bag of cement and 30 pesos per can of sand to be
hauled from the entrance to the main community
which would be an added expense for those who
want to build concrete houses.
Moreover, students can now ride on a jeep
going to school in Barangay Amdalao and the
long records of students getting absent became
shorter. The project also provides temporary
employment to the community. Women have
actively participated in paid labor for two days.
Meanwhile, just like any other community,
Pasil is not free from challenges. The Community
Volunteers and the Municipal Local Government
Unit (MLGU) experienced many challenges before
and during the sub-project implementation. They
conducted series of meetings purposely to plan
and address the problems.
The project has also brought the community
together as they practiced angkas (bayanihan
system) as their counterpart for the project. With
a total project cost of PhP 2,358,000, the subproject
is 93% complete as of May 11, 2016.
“If there is one thing that we learned in Kalahi-
CIDSS which we can apply in our future activities is
giving counterparts,” Diwayan beamed.
Being a community that put equal importance
to the environment and to their culture while
constructing an access road, Peter Diwayan of
Barangay Pugong represented the Cordillera
to share their environmental management
practices during the Thematic and Environmental
Management System Forum in Naga City on May
11-14, 2016.
Barangay Pugong is an example of a
community who did not only target infrastructure
development but have considered other factors
such as environmental and cultural conservation.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 7
Imelda Bergancia, one of the paid labourer said
that the access road they are currently working on
created employment for them. “We, the women
are happy that the labor for men and women are
the same. At least we will have something to give
our children who are studying,” she shared.
Diwayan who acknowledge that with Kalahi
-CIDSS he has seen huge potentials of women
that he did not recognize before now thinks that
[women] are not only industrious but are physically
strong enough to work in construction-related
works.

“There is ownership
in this sub-project, there is
transparency and unity.
Thankfully, now the
vehicles can stop right in front of
our houses to deliver aggregates
for example.”
PETER DIWAYAN
Community Volunteer and Barangay Kagawad
“The access road that we
are currently working on created
employment for us. We, as women
are happy that the labor for men
and women are the same. As a paid
laborer, at least we can give allowance
to our children who are studying.”
IMELDA BERGANCIA
One of the women laborers
Pugong, Pasil, Kalinga
KALAHISerye 2016|| 8

KALAHI CIDSS 2016
Culture and Development
new hope flows for
farmers in an abra
village
Jasmin P. Kiaso
Repairing the ditches has become such a common experience that the farmers have
established an indigenous system to do this.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 9

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KALAHISerye 2016|| 11
I
Irrigation is a farm’s bloodline. In fact, a
communial irrigation system is all it takes to give
life to the fields of a small village like Barangay
Tabacda in Tubo, Abra.
For the villagers of Barangay Tabacda, the
improvement of their irrigation system did not
only increase their harvest but had also ened their
sleepless nights because of having to guard their
fields at night for fear of the water being diverted.
The community had a perrenial problem on
irrigation depending on the season. During the
rainy season, the payas (earthen canal) always gets
destroyed especially during typhoons or heavy
rains. During the rainy season, one would think
that there will be no water problem but that is
not the case in Barangay Tabacda as rains tend to
corrode the payas, which are nothing more than
earthen irrigation canals.
“No kalkalpas ti bagyo, kanayon nga agrepair ti umili ti
payas nga malpas iti tallo enggana limma nga aldaw (After
typhoons, the villagers would always spend three
to five days repairing irrigation)”, Rey Maguinsay,
a farmer in Tabacda said.
Repairing the ditches has become a common
task that the farmers have established an
indigenous system to do this.
Through a ganap (bayanihan), villagers are
asked to take time and fix the destroyed payas. This
is their own version of bayanihan wherein villagers
are asked to render free labor depending on the
number of their itteg (parcel of land). For example,
if a farmer owns three itteg, he/she should send
three representative to render ganap.
Should a farmer fails to render ganap or was
found out to have disrupted the pangpang (water
schedule), he/she will be penalized by paying cash
or in-kind equivalent to existing labor rate.
This system is being practiced by the rest of
Tubo villagers but the Maeng tribe is one of those
who are strictly implementing this.
On the other hand, during the tiyagew or the
dry season when there is limited water supply,
farmers usually race to irrigate their fields. This
results to verbal fights with fellow farmers in the
village which eventually affect their relationship as
neighbors.
The barangay set their own schedule for
irrigation, however some farmers worry that their
fields might dry, they try to block the water flow to
other farms so that it can flow to their own farm.
Their only irrigation source is a creek located one
kilometer away from the main settlement. The risk
of having the water diverted away from their fields
prompted farmers to stay on guard at night by the
payas, or ditches, during their pangpang.
The construction of the irrigation system
through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-
Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of
Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), a program of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), with funding support from the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC), has played a major
role in helping address the farmers’ water problem.
The irrigation system did not only make the
water supply stable, it also provided the typical
mannalon a greater likelihood to earn more income.
In the past, farmers were only able to follow a
one-cropping system in a year. This was partly the
reason why they had to buy rice from the town
center, as they could not plant enough to meet
even their own needs.
With the communal irrigation system, they are
now able to plant a hybrid rice variety, which can
be harvested within three to four months. Most of
the farmers are now following two-cropping in a
year.
Aside from the increase in rice production,
some households, such as Rey’s, are now also
able to plant vegetables as they now have water

to sustain these. Charity, his wife, plants her own
products such as cabbage, legumes and string
beans in areas not intended for rice.
The irrigation system also meant that the
farmers are now finally able to say farewell to their
sleepless nights.
“Before, in the dry season I would have to
sleep in the field during my schedule to make sure
that the water is running towards my rice farm.
Now, I don’t need to sleep in the field during my
water schedule. I can just go home and rest with
my family”, Rey said in the vernacular.
With the construction of the communal
irrigation system, the water now pumps new life
to the village of Tabacda.
According to former Tubo Area Coordinator
Tony Tayaban, the village considers the irrigation
system as the biggest project ever granted to
them. For the first time, the village accomplished a
project with their effort and unity.
“Because of theri shared needs, they met and
strategized together. Their involvement in this
program has somehow strengthened their unity
as a community,” Tayaban added.
In the Cordillera, there are least 27 communal
irrigation systems which have been constructed or
improved through Kalahi-CIDSS in its partnership
with MCC.
Barangay Tabacda was awarded “Number 1
Good Sub-Project Implementer” for their Cycle 1
implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS in 2011.
Though small in number, Barangay Tabacda in
Tubo, Abra proved their strength with their unity to
implement project and work for the greater good of
their community
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KALAHI CIDSS 2016
Environment and Development
Galdang Fall Protection:
Building a Link toward Clean
and Green Environment Jasmin Kiaso
Most of the successful community projects are accounted for the strong bond among its
members. This was once again proven in Barangay Galdang when they displayed great
cooperation among them.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 15
I
t’s an ordinary day in Barangay
Galdang, Pasil Kalinga with residents
going to and fro on their daily
routines. You wouldn’t possibly
know what out-of-the-ordinary stories
the community may have to tell unless
you sit and listen to them over a cup (or
even more) of their rich-tasting coffee.
During one of those seemingly trivial
coffee sessions in Barangay Galdang,
Pasil, Kalinga, Punong Barangay Jose
Bakidan boasted about how their Fall
Protection brought them several benefits
they have not foreseen.

prizes respectively during the provincial search for
the cleanest and healthiest barangay.
PROMOTING HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT
The Fall Protection constructed along the
residential houses became more than a fence
since it has secured the residents from the fear of
erosion or tripping over the cliff.
Most of all, the structure has ended the
irresponsible dumping of garbage as it has
barricaded the residents from easily disposing
their wastes over the cliff.
The project which was completed in 2013 during
the second year of Kalahi-CIDSS implementation
in the barangay helped them garner one of the
most prestigious award in their province.
Their barangay had been awarded as the
cleanest and healthiest barangay in 2014 and
2015 with PhP 100, 000 and PhP 20, 000 cash
The residents were also encouraged to plant
backyard vegetables and fruit trees as it is now
protected from animals or people who may
destroy them while passing through the pathway.
Now, some of them has been harvesting eggplant,
onion leeks and string beans for their family’s
consumption.
Meanwhile, one of the major reasons of the
community in pushing for this project was the
two counts of accidents in the area along the Fall
Protection. The community has been clear on their
KALAHISerye 2016|| 16

purpose that nobody should be a victim of falling
again from that side of the barangay.
Thus, when Kalahi-CIDSS was introduced in
their municipality, community volunteers listed
the construction of a Fall Protection as their top
priority.
it was not easy for them managing a
community project but after the fall protection was
constructed, Bakidan says that they are reaping the
benefits of such simple infrastructure. Coupled by
the knowledge on environmental protection they
have acquired from seminars provided, they were
inspired to keep their barangay clean and green.
They then started their quest to become one
of the healthiest barangay through information
and education campaign and by first putting “No
Dumping Here” sign boards.
The barangay has also strengthened its
implementation of the ordinance on proper waste
disposal. Trainings on waste management such
as recycling, creating decorations from plastics or
papers and composting has been conducted by
the Barangay Local Government Unit.
Moreover, as an operation and maintenance
activity for the fall protection as well as for a
healthy environment, each sitio was scheduled for
the regular clearing and inspection of the structure.
Women and 4Ps beneficiaries also regularly
clean within the barangay every after Sunday mass.
Indeed, the structure is physically a fence but
one could be amazed how it linked the barangay
to strive for a safer and healthier environment.
Most of the successful community projects
are accounted for the strong bond among its
members. This was once again proven in Barangay
Galdang when they displayed great cooperation
among them.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 17

KALAHISerye 2016|| 18

Through KALAHI CIDSS 2016 the Lens
bridging Claypots
KALAHISerye 2016|| 19

. “Tadtan nga adda ti baro nga rangtay mi ket haan kami nga mabuteng na mangipagna
kadagidiay lako mi nga banga. Nabibiiten nga maidanun mi idiay Barangay Amdalao ti
lako mi ta haan kami pay lang nga magna idiay Lubuagan (Now that we have a new
bridge, we are no longer afraid to cross while carrying our claypots. It is now faster
to transport our prodcuts to Barangay Amdalao because we don’t have to take the
longer route though Lubuagan).”
Albina Dimas
Operation and Maintenance Chairperson of
the Lagatao-Amdalao Cable footbridge
KALAHISerye 2016|| 20

Through the Lens
CHAMPIONING gender
and Development
KALAHISerye 2016|| 21

. “Kalahi-CIDSS is the best thing that happened in Besao [Mountain Province].
Modesto Gaab
Besao Municipal Planning and Development Officer
He won as Gender and Development Champion under Best Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator
with his remarkable contributions in Gender and Development initiatives of Kalahi-CIDSS and the municipality
of Besao during the National Gender and Development Mainstreaming activity held by DSWD in Metro
Manila last July 2016.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 22

Through the Lens
keeping “alluyon” alive
KALAHISerye 2016|| 23

The community of Cagaluan, Pasil, Kalinga agreed to render “angkas” or “alluyon” (bayanihan)
to fast track the completion of the cable footbridge they proposed as the answer to their need
for a safe and quality access bridge.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 24

Empowered Citizens
moving out from the
shackles
of poverty in
the countryside
Jasmin P. Kiaso
Juna is just one of many Filipinos who lacked opportunities but after being
provided with one, it has created a ripple effect to her family and to her
community. From being a timid and typical housewife, Juna proved that with
pure effort anyone can turn into a versatile and resilient person ready to
change her life and to her community.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 25

R
emember that story told by your catechist or
parents about a prophet who was swallowed
by a huge fish for three days and three nights
before being thrown on a dry land? His name
was Jonah.
But here’s a modern Jonah story who wasn’t
literally swallowed by a shark instead she was
nearly enslaved by poverty. She’s a young woman,
a wife and a mother to five children and she broke
away from the shackles of poverty.
Juna Sanggoy belong to the Kankana-ey tribe
of Kapangan, Benguet. Now at age 35, she tried
to look back on her rocky beginnings as a member
of this ever-challenging society.
She did not dream of improving her life as she
didn’t even know that she is living a life below
poverty line until just a couple of years ago.
“I’m regretful that I didn’t care to learn about
a lot of things,” she began. Admittedly, she wasn’t
able to learn skills which could be her passport in
raising a family. For years “I was a plain housewife
who barely helps my husband Benjamin in our
sayote farm,” she continued.
A high school undergraduate who got married
at age 15, she now admits to having lack of
knowledge and skills on family rearing and much
more on skills to help provide for her family.
As her family grows, “financial challenges
began to build up one by one as my children
started going to school,” she said.
I can’t help notice the frustration in her voice
as she talks about getting angry when her children
ask for allowance before they go to school.
“Most of the time, I just get angry to cover up my
embarrassment that I can’t provide them proper
allowance,” she exclaimed.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 26

KALAHISerye 2016|| 27
As farmers, Juna’s family wait for three months
before they could sell their crop and have their
cash. Usually, they plant string beans which have a
maturity period of three months.
Within those months “we have to live day by
day without giving our children regular “baon”
(allowance)” Juna said.
Because of this financial struggle, Juna decided
to avail of TESDA’s skills training. However, she
doesn’t have a high school diploma to qualify her
for the training. This didn’t dampen her spirit to
acquire some skills at least so she enrolled in the
Alternative Learning System of Dep-Ed.
“I graduated in 2005 when I had three kids
already,” she said with pride. She finally earned
that precious document certifying that she is a
high school graduate.
She continued to persevere while juggling her
roles between her family and her studies until she
finally succeeded. Eventually, she added another
set of skills by finishing her Beauty Care Training
with TESDA.
As we continued to share stories, my admiration
for her resiliency started to build within me and
made me wonder where mothers get all those
kind of strength.
The first time I saw her was when she shared a
little bit of her story during a visit of former DSWD
Secretary Dinky Soliman. That time she stood with
pride at a stage in Kapangan. She seemed nervous
but confident as she delivered her speech.
I was guessing that most of us who were
listening to her didn’t know that three years ago
she had a low self-esteem and she who would
never step on a stage to speak in front of a crowd.
But that day, she was a community volunteer,
a DSWD beneficiary who was able to hold the
audience including the secretary and municipal
officials with her speech.
She made an impression on the audience
including me so I pursued an interview with her.
After earning a national certificate, she said
she was happy having learned skills in beauty care
thus she began building her dreams of profiting
from it.
But then the happiness and the plans she
started to build began crumbling as she was again
faced with financial challenge to start a business.
“I didn’t have a capital to start with and I lacked
marketing skills,” she said.
In 2012, she became a DSWD beneficiary where
she learned family rearing through the family
development sessions. “My family’s relationship
slowly improved so now my husband and I can
better manage our family now,” she shared.
She was also granted a PhP 10, 000 capital from
Sustainable Livelihood Program of the department
to start her beauty care services.
“Although it wasn’t enough, I was able to
start a home service beauty care business in my
municipality and later to nearby municipalities.
Slowly, she started to feel that she is part of
her community so she got herself involved in some
activities of her barangay. She then joined as a
community volunteer for the Kalahi-CIDSS in 2013
and until now remains as one.
“Before, I have very low self-esteem but now I
came to find my self-worth and became an active
member of my community,” she said.
At present, she is also being invited as resource
speakers during Family Development Sessions
with other families in her municipality. “She is
very active in community activities as member or
leader of committees created,” Kalahi-CIDSS Area
Coordinator Fidela Gawidan confirmed.

During her home services to her clients, she
takes time to tell and invite them to participate on
the activities for community projects.
“While being a volunteer, I heard about a
cooking training from other villagers during
a barangay assembly and I readily joined, she
continued.
With her newly acquired skills, she can now
prepare and packaged candies, mallows, pulvoron
and other processed food which she sells around
her municipality while on her way to her beauty
care clients.
With these livelihood, “Now, I can provide at
least for our kitchen and enough allowance to my
children,” she said with a shy smile.
Juna is just one of many Filipinos who lacked
opportunities but after being provided with one,
it has created a ripple effect to her family and to
her community. From being a timid and typical
housewife, Juna proved that with pure effort
anyone can turn into a versatile and resilient
person ready to change her life and develop her
community.
Her story may not be the typical rags to riches
but she represents those people who are just
waiting for the right support before they can
unfold their potential.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 28

Empowered Citizens
Josel’s chronicle of
service with a heart
Jasmin P. Kiaso
“With my community in high spirits. I witnessed how bayanihan helped strengthen
and developed our community,”
Gender, age, and education is no barrier in
serving your community. Joselito Rodriguez, 24, a
member of LGBT in Villaviciosa, Abra proved this.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 29
“Josel” as he is fondly called became the
youngest Barangay Sub-project Management
Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson of DSWD Kalahi-
CIDSS in the region when he responded to the call
of service to his community.
His story echoes a journey of learning while
serving in his community. As a high school

graduate, his willingness to serve pushed him to
enhance his knowledge and skills in community
work.
JOSEL’S FIRST STEPS AS A LEADER
When Kalahi-CIDSS was first introduced in
Villaviciosa, Abra in 2014, Josel admitted that
he was reluctant in joining the committee of
volunteers. But through the encouragement of his
community and after much reflection, he decided
to take the challenge.
He joined as a participatory situational analysis
volunteer and was eventually chosen as the BSPMC
Chairperson at the age of 22.
Since then he diligently learned the processes
and purposes of Kalahi-CIDSS. Learning about it
was “tough and was a real challenge,” he said.
“There were a lot of things to learn and there
were times that I thought I could not do it,” he
narrated in vernacular. But the kind words and
encouragement from his people gave him strength
to push himself to the maximum and learn.
“It was a gradual process before I learned what
Kalahi-CIDSS is trying to achieve,” he continued.
Josel started to understand the purpose of Kalahi-
CIDSS after attending capacity building activities
organized by the DSWD with the local government
of Villaviciosa.
As a volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS, Josel had seen
and heard people complaining on the slow and
long processes of the program. “At first, we were
impatient on how things are being done but as
we continued, I understood that the meetings
or consultations is important in making our
decisions,” he added.
“Explaining to our fellow residents became
our nonstop job as a volunteer,” he continued.
Young as he is, he acknowledges that learning and
understanding community-driven development
would take a long time to accept and practice by
heart.
Many from the community still fail to
understand the need to have volunteers. “During
the second cycle, nobody wants to volunteer
anymore because it seemed like all of us were
caught up in our daily life trying to work for our
families,” he explained.
Josel said that they experienced birth pains
during the first cycle of the program as gathering
at least 80% of household population became the
real challenge. “However, when we were prioritized
during the second cycle, we were relieved and
reenergized,” he said with delight.
“With my community in high spirits. I witnessed
how bayanihan helped strengthen and developed
our community,” he added.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 30

Proudly, Josel also talked about his two thick
notebooks where he wrote everything he learned
and every transaction the committee made.
“My fellow BSPMC Chairpersons from other
municipalities were wondering why I have such
notebooks so I told them it is where I record
everything I learn and refer to it every now and
then especially when other volunteers come and
ask about Kalahi-CIDSS in general,” he said.
Josel went on to tell about the impact of Kalahi-
CIDSS as he sees it. “One of the biggest impact of
Kalahi-CIDSS in our barangay is related to gender
equality” he said. During the implementation
“we really practiced the idea of gender and
development.”
He added that he can’t help but notice and
smile that women and even senior citizens are now
active in construction-related labor. “As I see it,
our barangay embraced Gender and Development
which is one of the things being imbedded by
Kalahi-CIDSS.”, he added.
SERVICE FROM THE HEART
After more than two years as a community
volunteer “I came to see the whole picture that
the program is trying to eliminate poverty and that
became my motivation,” Josel reflected.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 31
Volunteering also made him realize that he is
a servant leader by heart. He added that when he
thinks about his community, it inspires him. “Our
place is just like Baguio where we have beans,
cabbage, pechay and other vegetables but the
only difference is we struggle in transporting our
products to the market,” he said.
They can reach barangay Poblacion within two
to three hours motorcycle ride. There is no public
transportation in the area.
Being a volunteer, “I like the challenges that
comes with it because I’m learning along the

process. I guess if given the chance, I would still want
to continue as a community volunteer,” he added.
As the youngest BSPMC Chairperson in the
region, he says that his perspective about service
and leadership changed in many ways. “Through the
series of trainings, I realized that I should never stop
learning but will instead strive to be a better person
and leader,” he mused.
Also, despite being discriminated as a member
of the LGBT, Josel instead showed his abilities and
passion making his community realize that he has
unparalleled potential vital for their development.
“Now, they started giving us important roles
regardless of our gender,” he said in relief.
Earlier in 2016, Josel was tapped to become a
barangay health worker. He said they were called for
a training in Bangued, Abra after Typhoon Ineng hit
their barangay in 2015. His days are now filled with
accompanying and transporting patients from their
barangay health clinic to local hospitals nearby.
Reflecting that his passion is to serve in his
community, he said he would be happy in social work.
“When I was younger, I wanted to become a teacher,
but when I became a community volunteer, I think
being a social worker suits me better,” he laughed.
“I’m a high school graduate and I still wish to
finish college or vocational course to be able to serve
better, but for now I guess my volunteer work with
Kalahi-CIDSS is good and genuine enough,” Josel
thought.
DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty
alleviation programs of the government that seeks
to help alleviate poverty through community-driven
development or CDD.
CDD is a development strategy that puts power
in the hands of the people by giving them the
opportunity to decide the development of their
communities.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 32

Empowerd Citizens
Multi-awarded
i-benguet sparks
inspiration as Kalahi
volunteer
Azriel Dolo with Jasmin Kiaso
His story truly embodies an empowered person. He began a journey as a simple volunteer who
later involved himself to different government and non-government programs implemented in
their barangay until he became a multi-awarded individual.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 33
F
or someone to render or express his
willingness to undertake a service
without getting paid or expecting
valuable rewards is a truly inspiring
act. A selfless act that is usually
associated to those we call “volunteers”
- bighearted and empowered individuals
that are often unrecognized of their
priceless service.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have
the time; they just have the heart.”
Elizabeth Andrew once said.
Volunteers are treasure to most
government and non-government
organizations that are into community
service and community-driven
development which includes the Kapit-
Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive
and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services (Kalahi-CIDSS, now a National
Community Driven Development
Program (NCDDP) under the Department
of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD).
Throughout the two-year
implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS
program in Atok, Benguet, the purpose
of the program which is empowerment
is slowly being fulfilled. This is evident
on certain individuals and groups
in the community who had shown
exemplary performance and enhanced
their knowledge and skills by actively
participating in the implementation,
decision-making, and management of
development activities in the Community
Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) of
the program.
Most of them are community
volunteers who willingly sacrifice
their time just to involve themselves
in the technical, financial and social
management of the program.

KALAHISerye 2016|| 34

KALAHISerye 2016|| 35
One volunteer stands out among them all.
His story truly embodies an empowered person.
He began a journey as a simple volunteer who
later involved himself to different government
and non-government programs implemented in
their barangay until he became a multi-awarded
individual. He is Manong Moreno an Audit and
Inventory Team (AIT) member for the Kalahi-
CIDSS first cycle implementation and later became
the Chairperson of the Barangay Sub-Project
Management Committee (BSPMC) during the
second cycle.
Manong Moreno Kimbongan hails from
barangay Naguey, Atok, Benguet. A 53-year old
jolly guy who lives alone, he manages a piggery
and raises chickens for a living.
He actually dreamt of becoming an accountant
but financial constraints caused him not to get a
college degree. Gladly, as an AIT member he is
now living a bit of that dream.
With his educational background, he still
became “somebody” worth mentioning in his
community. His long involvement to different
local and national organizations, firms, and
religious activities earned him various awards. If
the municipality would have their own version of
Hall of Fame awards, I bet he would be number
one on the list.
He was a volunteer to the Plan International,
a non-government organization in the 90’s for
the organization’s livelihood project and child
fostering services. In 1992, he was awarded as the
Most Developed Volunteer by the organization.
From then, he continued his volunteerism
joining cooperatives and Barangay Health Workers
(BHWs). In 2006, his dedication landed him an
award as “Most Outstanding BHW.”
Receiving awards did not stop him from learning
continuously. He involved himself to government
sponsored seminars and trainings on Gender and
Development, Barangay Child Protection Council,
Case Management, Violence Against Women and
Children Law, First- Aid among others.
In 2014, when the Kalahi-CIDSS was introduced
to his barangay, Manong Moreno considered it as
another opportunity to serve his “Kailyans,” thus
becoming a volunteer.
The Kalahi-CIDSS is a community driven
development program that highly involves the
community in its operation, consequently there is
a need to create a BSPMC. This is composed of
community residents representing various teams
such as the AIT to implement the sub-project.
His experiences in volunteering to other
national programs and his experience on financial
management prompted Manong Moreno to be a
member of the Audit and Inventory Committee.
His knowledge and skills fits for the committee.
Having attended trainings on finance, his
knowledge and skills were enhanced letting him
effectively perform his role during the sub-project
implementation.
Manong Moreno does not only help his
community but he continues to inspire them
including me, through his diligence, initiative,
versatility, trustworthiness and many others.
Observing him, he became the mobilizer and
teacher of his team and co-volunteers. He became
more of a co-facilitator to the CEF in every barangay
activities starting from the first Barangay Assembly
of cycle 2 where he facilitated the discussion on
Gender and Development. He also became the
focal person for the succeeding activities specified
in the CEAC.
Sometimes, he initiates BSPMC meetings and
assists in the preparation of proposals. Diligently,
he computes payroll rates and is always present
during sub-project monitoring.
Working with him, I think he understands the

importance of meetings and actively participates
especially on project proposal preparation. When
asked why he chose to stay as a volunteer, he said
“kayat ko tumulong ta naragragsak ti mangted ngem ti
umawat maysa pay ket ti resulta na daytoy ket living legacy
nga pakalaglagipan me kadigiti apo min to (I want to
help [my community] because I’m happier when I
give rather than receive. Another thing is, this is a
legacy we could leave to our grandchildren)”.
Despite his educational limitations, he had
already contributed priceless things that enabled
various national and local program successfully
implement their services. Particularly, his efforts
are invaluable in the completion their sub-project
- concreting of barangay Naguey Community
Footpath with Railings.
Manong Moreno might not have fulfilled
his dream to become an accountant but living
his dreams while being able to give back to his
community is more valuable than a piece of
diploma. Being recognized are just bonuses for all
his efforts. Indeed, the lack of a degree is not a
hindrance in sparking inspiration to others.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 36

Partners in Action
Citizens Wanted:
the role of BLGU
in community-led
development
Jasmin P. Kaiso
“They realized that the time and effort they poured during the trainings and
implementation is paying off because they can now discern barangay development
efforts in wider perspective.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 37

T
hey don’t appear fancy nor eloquent but their
management and leadership skills can surely
speak for them.
They are the officials of Barangay
Catlubong, Buguias – the BLGU winner of the
Regional Bayani Ka! Awards 2016 held in Baguio
on December 15, 2016.
Read on and discover how they became key
to the success of a community-led project in their
barangay.
CONCEIVED DURING BARANGAY
ASSEMBLIES
Following the empowerment cycle of the Kapitbisig
Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services, Barangay
Catlubong realized the importance of barangay
assemblies.
According to DILG’s code, barangay assemblies
should be held twice a year. However, in Kalahi-
CIDSS, the barangays are asked to meet five times
a year to conduct specific activities as part of their
empowerment.
“The barangay assemblies required by Kalahi-
CIDSS help in organizing people to target and
address the real problem in the barangay,” Punong
Barangay Melchor Guesey said.
However, “gathering them in this barangay
proved to be a challenge since, culturally, Benguet
people usually build their houses near their farms
thus away from each other” Guesey added.
“This makes it difficult to call for assemblies
and satisfy the 80% participation rate, one of the
implementation guideline of Kalahi-CIDSS,” he
continued.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 38

KALAHISerye 2016|| 39
But having to meet more than usual, the
barangay officials seized the opportunity to
mobilize the community to work together in
community projects.
Guesey narrated one of their strategies in
satisfying a high participation rate “we were
delighted then to use our own vehicle to fetch
residents from far sitios so they can join the
barangay assemblies.”
By seeking community participation to the
maximum, the BLGU programmed the barangay
assemblies with other meetings of the Parents
Teachers Association, barangay council and
COMELEC. The barangay officials realized that
this this strategy was time-saving and resourcessaving.
“Another strategy is we tried to give rewards to
those sitios who are performing well. We allotted
the 20% Barangay Development Fund to the
sitio with the highest participation rate,” Guesey
continued.
According to Community Empowerment
Facilitator Grace Dumangeg, “after understanding
the purpose of the program, the barangay officials
started mobilizing their people to join the roster of
community volunteers.”
She said that those who became community
volunteers are expressing their gratitude that they
were able to attend trainings sponsored by Kalahi-
CIDSS and LGU.
They realized that the time and effort they
poured during the trainings and implementation is
paying off because they can now discern barangay
development efforts in wider perspective.
Meanwhile, the linkage skills of the BLGU was
tested while conducting activities stipulated in the
Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC).
Guesey said that gathering people for an
activity means spending resources for meals and
snacks. But then, through partnership with other
agencies, feeding a whole community did not
become a problem at all.
One time, they were able to ask a farm product
distributor to sponsor their lunch and snacks.
Though sometimes when the sponsorship is not
enough, “the barangay officials defray some of
the expenses from their own pockets” Dumangeg
said.
BRINGING CDD TO A LOCAL YET
HIGHER LEVEL
Showing support to community-led
development is not enough for BLGU Catlubong.
Thus, they took it upon themselves to adopt the
Kalahi way of allotting budget – through the
barangay assembly’s decision.
Within one year of Kalahi-CIDSS implementation
“now, the budget plan of our Internal Revenue
Allotment (IRA) was decided by the barangay
assembly. The people are now the main decisionmakers,”
Guesey proudly remarked. In the past,
budgeting the barangay IRA had always been in
the hands of the BLGU.
Further, Guesey was requested to help motivate
Barangay Sebang, a nearby barangay on the verge
of waiving the implementation of the second cycle.
“He gladly said yes so we went to Barangay
Sebang during one of the meetings in the
barangay. There, he talked about communitydriven
development emphasizing its benefits to
the people.” Dumangeg narrated.
He told them that grants to develop the
community is not an everyday thing due to limited
resources so they should grab the opportunity.
Aside from his inspirational talk, he gave five
thousand pesos to the community volunteers for

their transportation allowance since one of their
problems is the transportation cost in processing
documents needed in the project.
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY BEING PRACTICED
As a requirement under the local government
code, barangay expenses are reported regularly.
But this was strengthened because of the five
barangay assemblies and other activities being
facilitated by Kalahi-CIDSS.
Thanks to the barangay assemblies – which is
now a household term, the BLGU has realized the
importance of transparency and accountability.
“Since [barangay] assemblies became more
frequent when we implemented Kalahi-CIDSS, I’d
say we practice transparency without even noticing
as we report our expenses every meeting, and we
regularly announce important activities for them
to participate or to be informed.” Guesey said.
Fulfilling their accountability to ensure that
their people’s needs are met, BLGU Catlubong
has been linking registered organizations in their
barangay to agencies who can help fund their
projects or capacity-building activities.
The many and fast development in the barangay
can be credited to the officials who poured their
time and effort to achieve it.
By networking with national line agencies,
local government unit and private institutions,
the barangay was granted projects which is now
being enjoyed by their people.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 40

Partners in Action
Tayo Ang Mga BAYANI
Tayong lahat mag-Kalahi
The Bayani Ka! Awards is an annual activity of the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-
Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Program of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development to recognize the hardwork being put by local,
everyday heroes who put their own communities (“Bayan”) before themselves (“I”). Our Bayani
Ka! Awardees are our champions in making community-driven development a reality.
The department believes that with the initiatives of the local government units (Bayan),
exemplary efforts of community volunteers (Bayani) and the active citizenship (Bayanihan) of
peoples group, our communities will continue to uphold the principles of participation, transparency
and accountability.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 41

MLGU Villaviciosa became a partner of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in 2014. They became a strong
supporter of community-driven development or CDD since then. Villaviciosa Vice Mayor Marjorie
Lagen (left photo-in white blouse) shares their good practices in implementing Kalahi-CIDSS during
the Kapihan sa Baguio (Media Conference) on December 15, 2016.
MLGU Villaviciosa
Bayani Ka! Awardee for “Bayan” Category under MLGU
Villaviciosa, Abra
KALAHISerye 2016|| 42

Partners in Action
He is known as a skilled carpenter in
his town. He earned the respect of his
community through his selfless service and
by using his skills for the improvement of
their barangay.
Victor Pasian
Bayani Ka! Awardee for Improved Local Governance
Community Volunteer
Sagada, Mountain Province
As a community leader and as a
volunteer, she hopes that Barangay Tamac
would soon be developed in terms of
services and safety of the people. Without
expecting payment, she takes initiative to
share her knowledge and push for Gender
and Development in her community.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 43
Demetria Gamileng
Bayani Ka! for Awardee for Gender and Development
Community Volunteer
Villaviciosa, Abra

He is an elder who makes sure that the rights of indigenous peoples in his
community are not being violated in the process of development. He shows to
the people and to the barangay officials that the development of their community
is should actually be in their hands.
Gabriel Pedro, Sr.
Bayani Ka! Awardee for Indigenous Peoples Welfare
Community Volunteer
Buguias, Benguet
KALAHISerye 2016|| 44

Through the Lens
milling with ease
Despite delays in the construction and installation of this rice mill facility
with thresher, barangay Tulaed, Mayoyao, Ifugao was still able to complete
the sub-project under Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP. The facility is now fully
functional and is addressing the milling needs of the community and its
nearby barangays. Residents no longer need to travel to Lagawe to mill their
rice since the facility is now easily accessible to them.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 45

KALAHISerye 2016|| 46

Through the Lens
Bayanihan In Snaps
An act which is already innate to the Cordillera people, these men voluntarily
went to help pull this vehicle after seeing that it couldn’t pass through the
overflowing river. The vehicle was on its way to deliver school equipment and
other materials to barangay Calamagan, Buguias, Benguet.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 47

Barangay Calamagan is one of the barangays in the
Cordillera that implemented a school building as their subproject
under the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. With the savings from
their sub-project, the community agreed to buy a television as
additional instructional material for the students.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 48

Diaries from the Field
Deformity brings the
Great Carpenter within
Manong Floro
Aprilla Camilot
KALAHISerye 2016|| 49
T
here will always be those times many of us
would doubt what we are capable of, what
we could actually achieve despite those glaring
and obvious limitations.
He was different, he never questioned what
he could do, never saw his physical limitation as
a deformity. Instead, he took the task with a grin
as he told us, “Kaya mi daytoy Sir, Ma’am, basta nu

I do not claim to be great in judging carpentry works but I know
what is excellent when I saw the walls, the corners, the chairs and
everything about the classroom he led to build. I hope that the
children who will use the building will take care of it and be inspired
by the story of Mang Floro whose family even donated the lot for
the construction of the building.
I myself was amazed as I watched Manong Floro
discussing with the community volunteers and
hired skilled workers during the pre-construction
conference of the 1 Unit-2 Classroom Elementary
School Building project funded under the Kalahi-
CIDSS program of DSWD.
I observed that he is very meticulous to details
of the construction and to the materials to be used.
During the pre-construction activities, we had
to walk from corner to corner of the construction
sites to check measurements here and there.
I painfully watched him as he dragged his other
foot while trying to cope alongside able bodies
talking about cubic meters, centimeters and feet. I
was nodding my head while watching him talked
about how he understood the lay out plan and
how to execute them.
adda haan mi maawatan a ket idamag mi tu ladta (We
can do this Sir and Ma’am, we will ask you if we can’t
understand something).”
He is Manong Floro Lubbayay, born and raised
in the far flung barangay of Lucab, Kabugao,
Apayao who amazes everyone with his carpentry
skills despite his physical condition.
As we trekked back to Barangay Poblacion, I
voiced out my initial concerns with my supervisor.
Do you think he can do the job? I asked him. He
shrugged off my doubts and declared “Mabalin!”
(He can!).
I’m already familiar with that kind of response
from my supervisor. He never says no and everything
seems possible to him. I then smiled and shook off
my doubts.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 50

While continuing the project, we constantly
interact with Manong Floro because he personally
visits the Kalahi-CIDSS Office in Poblacion, Kabugao
to discuss his concerns and reports on the status
of the project whenever he gets a chance.
Our team easily got along well with him and
his family during the many days and nights we
had to stay in his barangay. We usually stay at his
house during our monitoring and technical advice
sessions with the community and that’s where we
got to know him well.
were not able to take the blow. He suffered bruising,
his young skin went black and blue. Being in the
barrio where the only available doctor is a “Hilot”
who tried but had never corrected the broken or
twisted bones even after a lot of sessions.
Since then, he had to drag his left foot every
time he walks. He has to grow up with the
challenges of mobility and the discrimination he
receives from all kinds of people. Despite all the
rocky roads in his life, he kept a positive spirit and
lived through life.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 51
Manong Floro suffered an accident when he
was five or six years old. His brother Tony narrated
that they had rough childhood games because
they were a fan of Bruce Lee.
One day, after watching a Bruce Lee movie,
they agreed to do kickboxing with a tree branch
as a target. The rule was the higher the kick, the
better. He aimed, concentrated just like what he
saw in the movies and kicked with all his might.
He was merely a young child acting out like a
tough action star. His delicate muscles and bones
Now, he is 54 years old and is happily married
with Manang Maritess with their 3 kids.
His wife married him despite the protest of her
parents who told her that Manong Floro will not
be able to build a happy family with her because
of his deformity. Staying with them in their home
convinced me more that having disability is not
a hindrance to happiness. It’s just a matter of
perspective.
I witnessed how Manang Maritess always goes
with Manong Floro and takes care of his physical

limitations by carrying their basic needs during
their hikes to Barangay Poblacion.
Having finished a two-year vocational course,
he had the guts to apply for construction works in
Manila but as he was starting his own family he
decided to settle at his hometown.
He now makes ends meet by working as a
carpenter in his municipality and other neighboring
municipalities. The slap he received when he was
rejected in his application for a work abroad just
bring him smiles now.
be the start of bringing out the great carpenter
in him.
I do not claim to be great in judging carpentry
works but I know what is excellent when I saw
the walls, the corners, the chairs and everything
about the classroom he led to build. I hope that
the children who will use the building will take
care of it and be inspired by the story of Manong
Floro whose family even donated the lot for the
construction of the building.
He embraced the reality of having a physical
disability in this discriminatory world and lived
an earnest life up to now. That time when he
was rejected for the job he applied, he kissed his
passport goodbye, put it aside and thought he
could just master a skill and then make a living
out of it.
True to his plans, he mastered carpentry. He
never imagined that his horrible experience will
KALAHISerye 2016|| 52

Diaries from the Field
BUILDING CAPACITIES:
tHE FIRST STEP TO
EMPOWERING VOLUNTEERS
June Tay-og
Langiden, Abra is now implementing 4th cycle of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS under the National
Community-Driven Development Program. Their first to third cycle implementation is
funded through a grant by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United
States of America (USA).
KALAHISerye 2016|| 53

L
ove
for the community and passion to serve the people are
among the many reasons why they become Community
Volunteers of DSWD Kalahi-CIDDS program.
In my field works as a community development officer
assigned in the province of Abra, often I would meet community
volunteers from different walks of life. As part of my work, I
enjoy talking to our community volunteers whenever I get a
chance. Some of their words would just stay in my memory and
that’s when I know it’s time to put those thoughts into writing.
Each municipality in Abra has its own uniqueness even if
they belong to the same province. It goes the same with the
community volunteers I’ve met. Most of the time, their version
of change depends on their development status and their
political situations.
One of my favorite municipality is Langiden, Abra. I recall
that my visits there is often coupled with challenges of crossing
the Abra river especially during rainy seasons. Whenever I arrive
in Langiden, I’d always think that I’m entering a tiny place where
time has stopped. While some municipalities are “developing”
or changing fast, this community has maintained its rustic
atmosphere.
Langiden, Abra is now implementing 4th cycle of
DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS under the National Community-Driven
Development Program. Their first to third cycle implementation
is funded through a grant by the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) of the United States of America (USA).
There, I met Manang Mary Bueno, 56 years old, Barangay
Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson of
Barangay Quiliat during our Community Driven-Development
and Gender and Development Training. As the BSPMC
Chairperson, she is in-charge of managing the committee in the
overall implementation of the sub-project.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 54

“Imbag man ta nakaumay kayo ditoy training tayo,” I
greeted her and she answered me casually in her
Abra Ilokano accent.
“Adu ti ubraek kuma idiay balay ngem siyak met ti
maysa nga nadutukan nga volunteer iti Kalahi-CIDSS sunga
inbaon da siyak nga umay makiseminar ditoy (There are
many household chores that I’m supposed to do
but since I was chosen as one of the volunteer,
they sent me to attend this seminar)”, she said.
Manang Mary is serving as a BSPMC Chair in
her barangay for the first time. She was elected
during their 5th barangay assembly.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A SACRIFICE
Trainings and seminars are among the many
activities that community volunteers have to
attend. This means that they have to temporarily
leave their families at home.
BSPMC Chairperson of Barit, Luba, Abra.
“Haanak kuma nga palubusan ni baket ko syak nga
makiseminar ta awan mangkita kadagidiay nuwang mi
ngem inmayak latta (My wife told me not to attend
seminar since no one will take care of our Carabao
but still I came to attend)”, Tatang Leo claimed
during a chat at Bangued when he attended the
Capability Building for BSPMC Chairpersons. When
asked why does he ends up attending trainings,
Tatang Leo happily answered “I learn a lot of things
especially when I attended the LGU forum where
we visited Kapangan, Benguet.
Tatang Leo observed that the success of Kalahi-
CIDSS program in Kapangan lied heavily on the
cooperation of volunteers as well as the support
of MLGU and BLGUs.
“It was my first time to attend such activity
outside Abra and I think I will treasure that
experience for the rest of my life,” he said.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 55
The volunteers would talk about their chores
they left back home but then during reflection
session, they would realize and appreciate the
importance of the trainings being organized for
them.
My community work also gave me the
opportunity to enter and leave Luba, Abra. The
people here are as warm as their love and care
for the environment. Their indigenous practices,
cultural values and their unwavering bayanihan
spirit are the things that sets them apart.
“Nagadu ti training ken seminar ti Kalahi ditoy
barangay, munisipyo ken daduma pay nga lugar kasla
kuma idiay Bangued ken Baguio sunga isakripisyo me ti
oras mi ken ibati mi pay ti pamilya ti manu nga aldaw
karkaro no idiay Baguio (There are a lot of trainings
and seminars in Kalahi-CIDSS conducted here in
the barangay and municipal center, in Bangued
and also in Baguio City so we need to sacrifice our
time and leave our family for a couple of days)”,
confirms Tatang Leonardo Ramos, 62 years old,
Like Langiden, the municipality of Luba is also
implementing one cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP
after they finished three (3) cycles of the program
through the MCC grant.
Another municipality that I remember well is
the municipality of Lagayan. I find this place as
home to persevering people who are willing to
change the status of their community.
As Manang Jacqueline Tabas recounted, “A kas
maysa nga volunteer, adu met a ti naadal ko iti Kalahi-
CIDSS, naadal nu kasanu ti ag-implementar ti maysa a
proyekto, nu anya ti umuna nga maaramid ken daduma
pay (As a volunteer, I learned a lot from Kalahi-
CIDSS; I learned how to implement a project and
the steps in doing so)”.
Manang Jaqueline is the Project Implementation
Team Chairperson of her barangay. Her team is incharge
of the actual physial implementation of
their approved proposal. As the head of the PIT,
she ensures that the plan is followed properly

during the sub-project implementation.
She says that the trainings opened them to ideas
on what they need as a community and the things
they can do to help develop their community.
While going around communities in Abra,
community volunteers would often express their
gratefulness that their capacities are improving.
With that, the program is definitely achieving
its purposes. I would also commonly hear their
clamor that the program should be continued at
the LGU level.
the fund is being used),” Manang Jaqueline says.
I’m also one with them in hoping that
transparency will be practiced in all government
operations and, that the services needed may
really reach the citizens.
For Kalahi-CIDSS, the volunteers are the
forefront of the program implementation at the
community level. Their selfless service will surely
echo in their communities as they continue with
their quest for community development. Truly,
they are in their own way, our unsung heroes.
“Mayat kuma no tuloy-tuloy ti Kalahi-CIDSS ta
makita nga talaga nga amin nga kwarta ket mausar para
iti proyekto (We hope that the program will be
continued because there is transparency in how
KALAHISerye 2016|| 56

Through the Lens
bringing products
closer to the MaRket
KALAHISerye 2016|| 57

The Municipal Local Government Unit of Tadian together with the Area Coordinating Team of Kalahi-CIDSS in Tadian
conducting final inspection and sustainability evaluation of the sub-projects in Barangay Dacudac. The barangay has
implemented a 325.8 linear meter farm-to-market road. On July 20, 2016, it was completed and has been enjoyed by
the barangay and its neighbors.
“With the concreted farm-to-market road, we no
longer have difficulty transporting our products.”
Susana Danglose
Community Volunteer
Dacudac, Tadian, Mountain Province
KALAHISerye 2016|| 58

Through the Lens
Moving as One
The municipality of Buguias worked in sync in carrying 115 pipes, each of which weighing 33
kilograms, to the project site of the water system where the construction of five tanks is on-going
in Barangay Poblacion. The community together with DSWD staff and the PNP joined this activity
thus making the task faster and easier. They passed through two creeks, a hanging bridge and the
the usual uphill and downhill terrain in the Cordillera to reach the project sites.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 59

KALAHISerye 2016|| 60

Pantawid Stories
more than just a mother
Phylein Maria Rosette Callangan
Indeed a woman can do whatever she put her mind into, from a housekeeper to a
barangay treasurer. She just needs the right motivation. If we make change work for
women, you can rest assured that the women will make the necessary change.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 61

On most days, you can always catch her with
her hands full but don’t let that fool you.
This mother of four has more to her than meets
the eye.
MOTHER’S INSTINCTS
Dorta D. Piacot was born and raised in Kabayan,
Benguet. For all her life, she had always known
that she would be a mother. It is in the same town
where she met her life partner and father of her
children, Sergio.
“Friend suna ni ading ko sunga makipaspasyar kunwari
ijay balay mi, ngem balak na agarem gyam kanu a. Dayta
ma’am, after graduation ko ti college, nagkasar kami bigla,
awan ti nabayag nga tiempo nga nagaygayeman (He
was a friend of my youngest sibling who always
tags along whenever he comes home, only to find
out he was only there because he has a crush on
me, and then it happened. Right after college we
skipped courtship and got married and started our
own family)”, Dorta shared.
Sergio Piacot is a miner. On other days, he gets
his hands on whatever work that he can so as to
provide three meals on his family’s table. They
were blessed with four children namely Giovanni
– 18, Sonwright – 16, Rio Krielle – 13, and Carvin
Ralph – 10. Their eldest son dropped out of school
at an early age to help out the family by working
prior to being beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.
The other three are enrolled, monitored, and are
doing well in school.
WOMAN, YOU CAN
Before, Dorta was just like every other
housekeeper busy tending to the needs of her
family. But nowadays, you can see her in almost
every event in the barangay and nearby areas
always on the go and ready to lend a helping
hand. On 2011, their family was included in the
program as Set 4C. On the same year, she became
a Parent Leader in their area who just passed the
crown this year to venture on a different road.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 62

On January 2017, after 5 fruitful years of being
a parent leader, she has turned over the position to
a co-beneficiary for her time has come to venture
on something bigger. On the same month, she
was appointed as Barangay Treasurer in Barangay
Asob, Gusaran, Kabayan, Benguet.
Her time as a parent leader has indeed been a
fruitful one since through this, her efforts had been
acknowledged thus landing her a job. Although
she has given up her title as a Parent Leader, she
still is active as a community volunteer for the
KALAHI-CIDSS project, as well in the Sustainable
Livelihood Program. In fact, they even have an
association called the NARASUGI which sells rice
and feeds.
These knowledge she had acquired through
her time as parent leader were not put in vain
since she has been able to share it not only to her
fellow beneficiaries but also to other constituents
who were not included in the program.
“Addu met naadal ko gapu iti FDS, especially iti
parenting. Adda realization mo nga “ayna, adu gayam iti
nagkamaliam nga parent” isunga adda met pangalaam ti
maiadvise mo kenya da nga haan nga pantawid benes.
(I have learned a lot in our Family Development
Sessions, especially in the discussions about
parenting. There were realizations like “oh, I
should have not done that to my kid or I could
have handled that situation better”. With these
(FDS learnings) we get to share to other non-
Pantawid beneficiaries as well)”, she added.
passed this on to all her children.
“Uray tatta ma’am nga nagkasar kami ni lakay ko,
hannak jay asawa nga agururay lang iti maiawid ni lakay,
agbirok ak iti maicontribute ko tapno mas nalaka ti biag
mi – ta kitaen yo met, adu annak mi, haan mi kaya nga
maymaysa lang iti agtrabaho, kailangan nga agtulungan
kami nga agasawa. (Even now that we’re married,
I’m not the type to just wait around for my
husband’s take home, I also look for ways to help
earn money for our lives to be easier. See we have
four children, and we cannot do it with just one of
us working. We need to help each other)“, Dorta
said.
Given that Pantawid Pamilya is already into
transition, Dorta is confident that she and her
family are ready to graduate from the program.
She is thankful for all the years they have been
beneficiaries and is hopeful that their gradual
transitioning from subsistence to self-sufficiency
will be continuous in the hopes of breaking the
intergenerational cycle of poverty that they are
currently into.
Indeed a woman can do whatever she put
her mind into, from a housekeeper to a barangay
treasurer. She just needs the right motivation. If
we make change work for women, we can be
rest assured that women will make the necessary
change.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 63
MORE THAN A MOTHER, SHE IS A
WOMAN
Aside from being a loving mother to her children,
Dorta also embodies a strong, independent, and
will-powered woman.
At an early age, she was taught that being
a woman is not a limitation to go further and
achieve greatness. Although she married early,
she still made sure she has that identity and has

BUILDING SKILLS,
BUILDING DREAMS
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
“Unaek pay nga makalpas dagitti kakabsat ko. Amin nga sakripisyok ket
parakenyada ta nakapsoten ni nanang ken tatang ko nga agtrabaho. (I will let
my siblings finish their studies first. All of my sacrifices are because
of them since my parents are already weak).”
“K
ayat ko nga maka-eskwela dagitti kakabsat ko
nga babae nga ub-ubing ngem syak ta madik nga
agtrabaho da idyay garden ta narigat iti trabaho
idyay (I want my younger female siblings to
go to school because I don’t want them to work
in the farm because it is hard to work there)”, 21-
year old Lemar Sagandoy shared.
“Kayat ko nga dak-dakel iti maitulong ko iti pamilyak.
Kayat ko met nga maipakita nu anya ti kayak nga aramiden
(I want to give more assistance to my family. I
also want to show them what I am capable of
doing)”,23 year old Mary Rose Somera said.
These were the answers of Lemar and Mary
Rose when asked on their aspirations. Both
are from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
households in Kapangan, Benguet.
Their families belong to the 50 Pantawid
Pamilya households that have been granted the
opportunity to undergo the skills training funded
under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD).
KALAHISerye 2016|| 64

Lemar Sagandoy
KALAHISerye 2016|| 65
Together with other employable members of
the Pantawid Pamilya households, Lemar and Mary
Rose attended and passed the Scaffold Erection NCII
Training for 20 days. In partnership with the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Kapangan, Benguet
Vocational School (BVS) Colleges, Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA)- Benguet, and the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) Cordillera, the participants
started their skills training on 20 May 2016. Aside
from the technical skills, the participants were also
able to undergo the life skills training where they
were assisted in preparing their bio-data. They
also underwent mock interviews to prepare them
in upcoming employment interviews.
“Naragsak ak ta kunami nu dagiti kakabsat ko lang
nga Pantawid [beneficiaries] ti matulungan. (I am happy
because all the while, we thought that only my
siblings who are Pantawid [beneficiaries] will be
able to benefit from the Program.) I feel lucky with
the opportunity to be trained para makahanap ako
ng mas maayos na trabaho”, Mary Rose added.
Meanwhile, Lemar, who had been a Pantawid
Pamilya beneficiary himself, sees the training
as continuation of the blessings he has received
from the Department. “Naragsak ak ta ada pay latta
iti maitulong da kanyak uray nalpasakon nga Pantawid.
Daytoy ket mainayon ko dagiti certificates ko pay iti
sabali nga training ket bareng maymayat iti sumrek nga
trabaho. (I am happy because I am still continuously
benefitting from Pantawid even if I have already
graduated from the Program. This will be an
addition to my certificates and I hope that this will
lead to better job opportunities.” Lemar shared. He
was able to finish a short term course on electrical
installation maintenance.
“Unaek pay nga makalpas dagitti kakabsat ko. Amin
nga sakripisyok ket parakenyada ta nakapsoten ni nanang
ken tatang ko nga agtrabaho. (I will let my siblings
finish their studies first. All of my sacrifices are
because of them since my parents are already
weak)”, Lemar said.

“Ngem nu adan to ti tiyempo, kayat ko met kuma ti
ag-eskwela (But if opportunity comes, I also want to
go back to school)” Lemar added as he builds new
hopes not only for his family but also for himself.
“We are very hopeful that our scaffolding
graduates will be able to fulfill their dreams
through the skills that we have provided them.
With the help of our project development officers,
they are being linked to different construction
companies. We have also been informed that there
are shipyard companies in need of individuals
trained on scaffolding, thus, these are also our
target employers for our graduates”, DSWD-CAR
OIC Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is
one of the poverty alleviation programs of the
Government which provides capacity-building
trainings to improve the program participants’
socio-economic status. Under the program, the
participants may undergo skills enhancement
activities. After the training, the DSWD will provide
necessary assistance to the participants whether be
on micro-enterprise development or employment
facilitation.
Since 2011, the SLP is able to serve around 395
program participants in Kapangan, Benguet. In the
Cordillera, a total of 18,433 program participants
have been served.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 66

Sustainable Livelihood Story
From poverty to
opportunity
Mark Erik King Guanzon
While others dream of having a six foot three gleaming red
Ferrari, the SLP Federation’s dream is to have a tricycle to transport
goods to barangays where trucks are unable to go. The federation
also plans to construct small stores on upper barangays to sell the
products from the grocery.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 67
I
n unity there is strength – a quotation which
has been proven many times, from the
liberation of a country to the fall of an empire.
In the rural areas of the Cordillera lies the
province of Apayao, a province rich in culture and
natural resources but is burdened with one of the
deadliest battles of this era – POVERTY.
Visiting the province, one will notice the smiles
and ideals of individuals; but behind the smiles,
they are troubled with problems on survival.
While some are comfortably resting in their
sofas, drinking a very expensive coffee, bragging
a very expensive watch; there are people gambling
their lives just to eat three times a day, who rests
on soil, and their only way of knowing time is by
the movement of the sun.
Two years ago a group of poor individuals
formed a federation known as Sustainable
Livelihood Program Federation (SLP Federation).
The Federation aims to reduce the number of
individuals caught in the poverty line by creating
sustainable livelihood using their group fund;
this group fund came from the P500.00 capital
share, P20.00 membership fee and P20.00 annual
due. The federation also has the support of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD).
This year, they’ve launched their first project –
a P170,000.00 worth mini grocery located near
the municipal capitol of Pudtol. It is expected to
have a good income for its strategic location and
the marketing plans of the members. The grocery
sells frozen foods, grocery products, agricultural
supplies and SLP products.

After two years members will be granted their
patronage refund and if everything goes well they
plan to invest their funds to bakery and catering.
While others dream of having a six foot three
gleaming red Ferrari, the SLP Federation’s dream is
to have a tricycle to transport goods to barangays
where trucks are unable to go. The federation also
plans to construct small stores on upper barangays
to sell the products from the grocery.
DSWD-CAR swore to provide guidance and
technical assistance when requested by the
federation. With all the livelihood trainings the
SLP is providing, the department encourages poor
individuals to have the initiative to participate, to
move and act, to escape and get rid of poverty.
TUNAY NA MALASAKIT
Members of the Federation were beneficiaries
of the SEA-K Seed Capital Fund a program by the
DSWD. The fund they gathered from the program
was used in the creation of the grocery thus giving
them a more sustainable source of income.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 68

Through the Lens
Learning from each
other
“One secret of this [successful
implementation] is having unity
in the barangay. With unity, it was
not difficult running a program or
project.
For us here, we almost
reached 99% on our attendance to
meetings. And, whatever we talked
about during the meetings, we duly
follow them.”
Nanet Alangui
Punong Barangay
Sagada, Mountain Povince
Learning Visit Sagada 2016
KALAHISerye 2016|| 69

“w
e don’t want to sacrifice the safety of our
children.”
One of the community volunteers in Banao,
Bauko Mountain Province shared during an inter-
LGU learning visit in the barangay on July 27, 2016.
The community narrated the story behind the
slope protection they built at Banao Elementary
School.
They recalled that the area was riprapped
twice but was eroded both times prompting the
community to solve the problem themselves.
With the entrance of the first cycle Kalahi-CIDSS
NCDDP in the barangay, they prioritized the slope
protection to put an end to the unsafe learning
environment of their children.
Now, the community is satisfied with the
structure they labored to build. According to
observations of LGU visitors, the community has
done well by excavating the soil from the top of
the site to prevent it from pushing the structure
during heavy rainfalls.
The support of the barangay officials has
been noted as one of the main contributor in the
successful implementation of the sub-project.
Slope Protection
Banao, Bauko Mountain Province
KALAHISerye 2016|| 70

Barangay Lengaoan, Buguias, Benguet has
been implementing Kalahi-CIDSS National
Community-driven Development Program since
2014. Their first cycle sub-project is concreting
of Sitio Gasal, Sitio Akipan to Sitio Bileng FMR.
During the visit of LGU representatives from
Kalahi-CIDSS – covered areas in Abra, barangay
officials and community volunteers talked about
how they thought about their children when
they implemented the program. Their children
became their motivation in ensuring the quality
of the farm-to-market road.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 71
Abra LGU representatives together with
DSWD staff enjoying the view and the stories
while walking through the farm-to-market
road in Lengaoan, Buguias.

“I realized that being a volunteer is difficult, but there is joy always coupled with it since I
am learning while rendering service to my community.”
Mercy Bangoyao
Community Volunteer
Atok, Benguet
Learning Visit Atok 2016
KALAHISerye 2016|| 72

NEWSBITE
Bakun residents use wages
to lengthen road
The people of Gambang
showed that they are ready
to work hand-in-hand for
the development of their
community.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 73
I
n the true spirit of Bayanihan, residents of Gambang,
Bakun, Benguet opted not to take home their wages
from a Farm to Market Road Community Project
and instead use their supposed wages to lengthen said
road.
One hundred forty-two members of the Pakyaw
Group combined their wages amounting to 21
thousand pesos. Using this amount, the group was
able to concrete 110 meter portion of the Sookan-
Gambang Farm-to-Market Road in addition to the
original 246 meters funded by the Kalahi-CIDSS
National Community-Driven Development Program.
During the planning, they decided that “pakyaw”
labor is the best way to involve community members to
work on the project. The “pakyaw” would also allow
them to fast-track the works.
Consequently, the road was completed in 12 days
contrary to around 45 days when it is usually done by
outsourced contractors.
Being a vegetable producing community, public
vehicles and vegetable trucks are always at risk during
rainy season because the road becomes slippery.
With the PhP 926, 027.74 total project cost, the
provincial local government unit of Benguet provided
PhP 370, 905.04 to complement the PhP 529, 747.70
Kalahi-CIDSS grant. The remaining PhP 25, 375 is
the counterpart of the barangay and municipal local
government unit.
On April 26, 2016, the road was finally completed.
Since then, the barangay has been delivering their
vegetable products without so much hassle. However,
the community want their road to be fully improved
since only the critical areas of the road were concreted.

Tadian completed 5M worth of
community projects
Who says you always need a powerpoint to present a project
proposal? Sometimes, all you need is a guitar! This is how
representatives from the different barangays presented the
needed development in their respective communities.
The municipality of Tadian in Mountain Province has
successfully completed seven (7) out of eighteen (18)
community projects worth PhP 5,401,702.78. These
projects have been implemented by the community
and the local government unit in partnership with the
Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS)
Program of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).
The completed projects are flood control structure
in barangay Balaoa; drainage canal in Lenga; farm-tomarket
road in Duagan; drainage canal in Kayan West;
erosion control in Bunga; water system in Masla and
road concreting in Batayan.
Five months since the implementation of
Kalahi- CIDSS Cycle 2, these are the first projects to be
completed in the region.
“As a community-led development, these
projects were managed by the community volunteers.
Also with the assistance of the local government unit
(LGU), they were easily mobilized” Area Coordinator
Mary Jane Quiwas shared. She added that the
barangay and municipal LGU were willing to shoulder
the unforeseen and underestimated cost of materials
thus the projects were completed without delay.
These projects which are now operational and
are ready for turn-over, are expected to benefit 3, 832
household of the municipality.
Quiwas also recognized MLGU Tadian for their
financial and technical support, and their commitment
to the program.
While waiting for the downloading of funds,
the MLGU convened the suppliers of materials for the
said projects and explained to them the processes of
the program,” Quiwas expounded.
Quiwas also said that four barangays are
almost finished with their projects while seven are
working double time to complete their sub-projects
until December.
Kalahi-CIDSS Deputy Regional Program
Manager Imelda Tuguinay recognized the efforts of
the implementers in the municipality and challenged
other implementers as well. She said that the projects
are tangible proof of the community’s efforts to bring
development into reality.
“We still have a lot to complete here in the
region and we hope that other communities will be
motivated to finish their respective projects within set
target as what Tadian did,” she added.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 74

NEWSBITE
Kalahi volunteers trained on disaster
management
To facilitate management of disaster risk, the
Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive
and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(Kalahi-CIDSS) spearheaded a training on
Disaster Risk Reduction Management in its
covered municipalities.
KALAHISerye 2016|| 75
In line with the observance of the National
Disaster Consciousness Month, the Kapit-bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of
Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) spearheaded a training
on Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in its
covered municipalities.
A total of 1, 657 Community volunteers from 25
municipalities in the region currently implementing the
first and second cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS were trained on
first aid, basic life support and basic rescue techniques.
Topics such as understanding weather forecast,
role of community during disaster, evacuation protocols
and climate change among others were also discussed with
them.
The Local DRRM Office together with the Bureau
of Fire Protection assigned in the area were tapped as
partners and resource speakers.
“The activity is part of our effort to empower
people as a community. To achieve one of our program
objectives, we have to capacitate our volunteers to be
resilient during disasters,” Kalahi-CIDSS Deputy Regional
Program Manager Imelda Tuguinay said.
“Knowing that volunteers can do well in
performing first aides and understanding weather forecast
among other things would lessen our worries for the
communities we serve,” she added.
During the training in Buguias, Benguet, Charlie
Bayacsan, one of the community volunteers expressed that
his days became very fruitful since he started volunteering.
“We are learning helpful skills such as disaster management
which we could apply for ourselves and especially to our
community,” he added.
The training started last July in each municipality
covered by the program which are as follows: Pudtol,
Apayao; Daguioman, Danglas, Dolores, Lagangilang,
Lagayan, Licuan-Baay, Manabo, Peňarubia, San Juan,
Tineg, and Villavisciosa, Abra; Bauko, Barlig, Sagada and
Tadian, Mountain Province; Hungduan and Mayoyao,
Ifugao; Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan,
Kibungan and Tublay, Benguet.

Kalahi-CIDSS Coverage in the cordillera
KALAHISerye 2016|| 76

Venturing through darkness, so that others may see the
light. Staff of the National Household Targeting Unit of the DSWD-CAR
assessing a household in one of the remote barangays in Kalinga. The second
round of assessment for Listahanan started from 2015 to 2016 to update its
database of households needing social protection programs and services in
the region.
*Photo by Mark Erik King Guanzon
KALAHISerye 2016|| 77

KALAHISerye 2016|| 78

dswd 2016
Gearing Towards Ambisyon 2040
VISION
The Department of Social
Welfare and Development
envisions all Filipinos free from
hunger and poverty, have
equal access to opportunities,
enabled by a fair, just, and
peaceful society.
MISSION
KALAHISerye 2016|| page 79 78
To lead in the formulation,
implementation and coordination of
social welfare and development policies
and programs for and with the poor,
vulnerable and disadvantaged.

our core values
MAAGAP at
MAPAGKALINGANG
SERBISYO
SERBISYONG
WALANG PUWANG
sa KATIWALIAN
KALAHISerye 2016|| 80

PATAS na
PAGTRATO sa
KOMUNIDAD
KALAHISerye 2016|| 81
#DSWDMayMalasakit

Komunidad sa Mundo ng Bata
Dahil sa proyekto ng Kalahi at DSWD maraming tao ang natutulungan at nagbabago ang estado
ng kanilang buhay. Maraming inprastraktura ang naipapatayo na nakatutulong sa pagtayo ng ekonomiya.
Maraming bata ang nagkakaroon ng pagkakataong mag-aral. Nakakapasok na iskolar. Tinutulungan silang
magbayad ng kanilang matrikula at mga babayaran sa paaralan. Nabibigyan ang mga magsasaka ng mga
libreng pataba para mapalago ang kanilang ani. Napapanatiling masagana ang buhay ng mga mahihirap na
pamilya. Dahil sa mga tulong na ito napapagaan ang pamumuhay ng bawat isa. Mabibigyan ng trabaho ang
mga nakatapos ng kolehiyo at mga batang walang perang pang-aral na nakatapos lang sa sekondarya. Kahit sa
simpleneg paraan na ito natutulungan sila pati na rin ang kanilang pamilya at maluwagan ang pinproblema nila
sa kanilang buhay.
Ang kamay ang sumisimbolo ng “balanseng komunidad” na may mga nakalaan na trabaho at mga
gagamiting materyales para sa ikauunlad ng buhay ng bawat mamamayan.
Original Artwork and text||
TIFANNY LIBRADO
Bulbulala Elementary School
La Paz, Abra
A one unit-two classroom school building was constructed in
Bulbulala Elementary School through the Kalahi-CIDSS with
funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.