The residents who were entrusted with the entire implementation of 1,180 community projects of Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) were currently training on community financial management and community procurement which started last May and will end this July.

The four-day training will prepare the community volunteers, the elected residents comprising the community management committee formed in each community for the subproject, with the procedures being observed during subproject implementation period.

“Kalahi-CIDSS is about human development. People participation is vital because their decisions to influence change in the community matter,” DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

Aside from 2.3 grant allocation to fund the construction of community-identified infrastructures from 2014-2015, DSWD also allocated funds to train the volunteers. Php12,544,000.00 was allocated for the conduct of PIW in 88 municipalities.

“Kalahi-CIDSS is unique because the residents are given the chance to handle the procurement and finances of their subprojects,” Dir. Garcia added.

Each community sends participants for the two-day community finance management training comprising of the following: Barangay Treasurer, Bookkeeper, Monitoring and Inspection Team (MIT) head, Project Implementation Team (PIT) head, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson, Barangay Captain and Procurement Team (PT) Head. In this training, DSWD discusses how the funds are disbursed and taught on how to record and report financial transactions

Another two-day Community Procurement Training is participated in by PT, MIT Head, Barangay Subproject Management Committee (BSPMC) Chairperson, Audit and Inventory Team (AIT), PIT, Barangay Captain and BAC Chairperson. In this training, DSWD discusses the roles and function of the volunteers, packaging of the community procurement plan, procurement procedures for shopping/bidding for goods and for works, direct contracting and its types, pakyaw and procurement action planning.

According to Mary Jean Miranda, BSPMC Chairperson of Catamlangan, Pilar, Sorsogon, it is important to attend these trainings because of the learning gained.

“Dapat mahigpit ka sa implementation para maganda ang proyekto (we should be strict in the implementation to get a quality subproject),” she said.