PUDTOL, APAYAO- Despite being elected as a barangay official in their community, Community Volunteer Restituto Gonzales Jr. pledges to support fellow community volunteers of their barangay in the implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

“Maging Barangay Kagawad man ako, hindi ko bibitawan ang KALAHI-CIDSS. I will make sure na tututukan ko sila. I will help the next Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group. Diyan ako nag-umpisa, hindi ko makakalimutan kung saan ako nagsimula,” (Even if I become a Barangay Kagawad, I will not let go of KALAHI-CIDSS. I will make sure to focus on them. I will help the next Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group in leading the implementation of the program. That’s where I started, I will never forget where I started), Gonzales added. 

Gonzales said KALAHI-CIDSS is a program of the government which not only provides projects but a program that is driven for the good of the community and builds a group of people to have a sense of leadership to lead in the community.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to leave his work in Manila and return in his hometown in Barangay Amado, Pudtol in the province of Apayao. In the beginning he confessed that he was hesitant to be a public servant as he sees himself as an introvert, not until he found the program in order to contribute in the development of their community.

As the Barangay Development Council-Technical Working Group (BDC-TWG) Chairperson or Community Volunteer for the implementation of the NCDDP-AF Phase 1 Sub-Project Construction of Sadiri-Tignay Community Drainage Canal he managed and spearheaded the implementation of the project and participated in the capacity building activities led by the agency. 

Data shows, there are 39,819 KALAHI-CIDSS Community Volunteers for all modalities in the region helping in the implementation of the program. 

Community Volunteers refer to the people who are helping the barangay in the implementation and completion of identified sub-projects. They are equipped with their first-hand experience on leadership and volunteerism packed with the series of trainings they had undergone thru the KALAHI-CIDDS program that will help them fulfill the functions of their respective position.

They play a vital role in the development of their respective communities and with the KALAHI-CIDSS, they are empowered to achieve improved access to basic services and participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, operations and maintenance.

Through the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) process, the volunteers are engaged in Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Meeting, Barangay DRRM Council Meeting, COVID-19 Assessment and Needs Analysis, Sub-Project Development, MIAC Technical Review, Sub-project Implementation, and Sub-project completion. 

Gonzales is among 382 Community Volunteers elected in the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election. In breakdown there are 168 in Ifugao, 71 in Mountain Province, 65 in Abra, 54 in Kalinga, 19 in Apayao, and five in Benguet. 

 # DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, LAUREN A. ALIMONDO and LANI DALE S. LANGBIS