NEW WASHINGTON, Aklan - Governor Carlito Marquez welcomed the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in the province of Aklan.
Marquez described the entry of the Project as a “thanksgiving day” for Aklanons.
“We are altogether supporting the project with the joint force of the DSWD and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). We believe in the objectives of this project,” he said in a speech delivered by Provincial Administrator Atty. Diego Luces during the opening of the three-day KALAHI-CIDSS Local Government Unit (LGU) forum for Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) areas Tuesday.
The province of Aklan is one of the 21 target provinces of the MCC-funded KALAHI-CIDSS Project nationwide. There are seven eligible municipalities in Aklan namely Makato, Batan, New Washington, Ibajay, Tangalan, Libacao and Madalag.
The towns of Libacao and Madalag are considered ‘guaranteed municipalities’ because of their high poverty incidence rate. Both towns have a poverty incidence rate of more than 70 percent.
Libacao Mayor Charito Navarosa and Madalag Mayor Rex Gubatina also expressed interest in the KALAHI-CIDSS implementation. Implementation of this project in the province will commence in June 2011.
Marquez believed that the entry of KALAHI-CIDSS in the target beneficiaries will give people the chance and opportunity to identify the projects they need to implement and at the same time work towards their realization. “It is very important that the people are the ones identifying their own needs,” he said.
It is encouraging to note that KALAHI-CIDSS has already trained thousands of villagers in project planning, technical design and financial management and procurement and pave the way inbuilding competent future leaders at the local level and provide villagers with structured opportunities for accessing information, expressing their opinions, and influencing local governance,” said Marquez.
He likewise expressed optimism that KALAHI-CIDSS is not only a crucial tool in helping the government to combat poverty, but also in helping to forge stronger partnerships between citizens, local government units, and national government agencies.
The governor likewise expressed appreciation of the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach used by KALAHI-CIDSS saying that “it will empower community-beneficiaries through their enhanced participation in the project implementation and decision making.”
KALAHI-CIDSS Deputy Regional Project Manager Leo L. Quintilla emphasized the importance of provincial and municipal local government units in the Project implementation.
“The Project will bring new perspectives and approaches in dealing with poverty and development at the local level,” he said. (PNA)/TE
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