The municipality of Calabanga, Camarines Sur spearheaded the Municipal Talakayan with the theme, “Progresibong Calabanga, Pagtarabangan” last September 4, 2018 at Calabanga Peoples’ Center – Octagon.

During the event, Municipal Mayor Eduardo Severo presented the accomplishments and plans for the municipality.

According to Mayor Severo, the local government unit (LGU) plans to convert the open dumpsite into an eco-tourism park. He also proposes the rehabilitation of public market and terminal as well as the construction of livelihood training center.

The activity was attended by the Civic Society Organizations (CSOs), Persons with Disability (PWDs), senior citizens, academe, department heads, community volunteers, barangay captains, Area/Municipal Coordinating Team (A/MCT), uniformed personnel, Department of Health (DOH), daycare workers and school heads.

The Municipal Talakayan is an evaluation tool which has been designed to capture and assess a “snapshot” of the overall development of municipalities being assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS)

This is conducted annually in municipalities implementing DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS wherein community citizens, local government officials, organized local groups meet and discuss their development situation, issues and identify actions to address concerns at the municipal level.

The Talakayan also increases the local stakeholders’ awareness on the development status of the municipality. The event also provides an avenue for systematic face-to-face feedback from the stakeholders.

Since the evaluation tool has been proven effective in achieving transparency in the municipality, the LGU fronted this year’s Talakayan instead of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS.

Mayor Severo cited that he adopted DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS’ Municipal Talakayan because he wants the constituents to know the programs and projects of the municipality.

According to Engr. Filipina E. Celso, EnP, the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) and Municipal Area Coordinator (MAC), the municipality would like to conduct the activity yearly starting this 2018.

“Gagawa ng resolusyon ang Sangguniang Bayan para ipagpatuloy ang aktibidad sa mga susunod na taon na siyang paraan para ibahagi ang mga plano at proyektong naisakatuparan (The Municipal Council will craft a resolution to continue the activity for the succeeding years that serves as avenue of the LGU to share the accomplishments and plans for the municipality),” she said.

Likewise, municipalities of Ragay and Gainza in Camarines Sur will also conduct LGU-led Municipal Talakayan.

To date, Calabanga has 47 community projects under DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS wherein 39 are completed and eight (8) are ongoing with a total implementation grant of Php 82,310,717.91 and local counterpart contribution of Php 4,510,130.00. /ramsertan/