Besao, Mountain Province – Known for their cooperation and hard work, the community volunteers of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi –CIDSS) or the Community Driven-Development (CDD) Project in the municipality are again proving that they are among the best implementers of the CDD approach.
CDDP Regional Project Coordinator Nora B. Jacinto said that Besao, along with Bucay, Abra leads in the implementation of the Project this year.
Barangay Treasurer and Community Volunteer Elsie T. Lomong-oy, said that aside from the support and cooperation among the communities, they also recognize the process that the Project follows during the implementation. Lomong-oy said that through the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC), the volunteers were able to learn the financial and technical procedures in community planning and organizing. She also highlighted that they were able to realize the importance of transparency and accountability all throughout the process.
CDDP Area Coordinator Gemmuel Daria shared that Besao communities do not only give emphasis to “Bayanihan” system, but they also value transparency and accountability.
MLGU Officer Caridad Basilio testifies to the improved local governance among BLGU and MLGU through the community development activities. Basilio added that she also saw active participation of communities in implementing sub-projects as they really owned them as she shared and tried their best to finish them on time.
For its third year of implementation, Besao has already completed five sub-projects with a total fund of Php 3,449,575.39 from CDDP’s Millennium Challenge Corporation grant and Local Counterpart Contribution. The accomplished sub-projects include drainage canal system in Banguitan amounting to Php 831,440.38, in Besao East with Php 459,999.51 cost, in Gueday with the amount of Php 662,943.50 and Php 676,750.00 in Kin-iway and also a concrete pathway with footbridge in Catengan amounting to Php 818,442.00.
On the other hand, the remaining seven prioritized barangayas including Besao West, Padangaan, Payeo,Laylaya, Lacmaan, Agawa and Tamboan are set to finish their sub-projects this September.
In 2012, Besao has been acknowledged as model local government unit in harmonizing participation, transparency, and accountability in governance system. The municipality is one among five other municipalities in the country that has been recognized by the National Project Management Office of Kalahi-CIDSS. In 2011, it has also been awarded as Best in Sub-Project Implementation because of the excellent performance of the communities.# DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, MAYROSE F. URBANO
