MikeLigalig.com

COTABATO CITY -- A ranking official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) on Monday urged partners and stakeholders in a special anti-poverty program of the government to excel and get national recognition and honor.

Gemma Rivera, DSWD-12 Assistant Director, made the appeal after the region won four out of nine categories of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service (Kalahi CIDSS) 3rd National Bayani Ka! Awards.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a community-driven development project implemented by DSWD. Under Kalahi-CIDSS, communities in local government units (LGUs) are trained to choose, design and implement subprojects that address their most pressing need.

Bayani Ka! Awards is an annual search for the outstanding community volunteers who are considered as unsung heroes for their extraordinary contribution and dedication to the development of their communities through the country’s community-driven development program, Kalahi-CIDSS.

Rivera said that Bayani Ka! Awards is an expression of gratitude to community volunteers of the program for their contributions in addressing the local problems.

“Our volunteers are the life-blood of the program. They are our local heroes who are offering their time, talent and treasure without expecting anything in return,” Rivera said. “They are worth emulating,” she added.

This year’s awardees from Region 12 include Bautista Agbay, 64, a farmer from Barangay Mabay, Maitum, Sarangani Province who was hailed as Best Community Volunteer for Peace Promotion Award in recognition of his volunteerism works.

Agbay headed the barangay subproject management committee and pushed for the “bayanihan system” in the implementation of 96 housing unit projects in the village, benefiting the poorest among the poor families living in coastal areas prone to disasters such as storm surges and flashfloods.

“Peace is not just about the absence of war. It’s about sleeping inside your home feeling safe and secure. It’s about having good relation with your neighbor. It’s about living with dignity,” Agbay said.

DSWD also won the Best Community Volunteer for Person with Disability Category through Rudy Mandiala, 44, a Manobo farmer from San Miguel, Arakan, North Cotabato.

His disability did not prevent him from doing his share and in fact inspired villagers to volunteer in various development initiatives in the barangay, to be actors rather than audience of development.

“Helping is not about tribe, status in life, educational attainment or disabilities. All of us have the capability to help,” Mandial said.

Another awardee, Lolita Ruben, 56, of Barangay San, Miguel, Arakan, North Cotabato was recognized as volunteer in promoting the protection of environment. She was awarded as Kalahi-CIDSS Best Community Volunteer for Environmental Protection Category.

As a village council member, Ruben made local laws, resolutions and ordinances related to environmental protection in the municipality of Arakan.

The village of Tambilil in Kiamba, Sarangani Province was declared as this year’s Best Barangay Local Government Unit for empowering ordinary citizens through direct participation in local governance.

Village officials allowed its constituents to identify their own community needs, as well as plan, develop, implement, manage, and sustain projects together to address local poverty issues in a transparent, participative manner while inculcating accountability.

Each winner received a development incentive amounting to P30,000 to fund their chosen projects in their respective villages.

Rivera said Kalahi-CIDSS stakeholders will aspire for more awards in next year’s national contest. (PNA)



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