The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), successfully concluded the Community Resilience Implementation Process (CRIP) Stage 1 and 2 Rollout Training for 638 Area Coordinating Team (ACT) members across the Bicol Region from June 7 until July 1, 2026.

The training equipped field implementers with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to facilitate the implementation of the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP) in their respective municipalities.

To inspire the participants, Assistant Secretary Edmon Monteverde for Promotive Programs and Director Rolando D. Villacorta Jr., KALAHI-CIDSS Deputy National Program Manager for Operations joined the rollout training in Albay province, sharing their insights and reaffirming the importance of upholding the Community-Driven Development (CDD) principles in building resilient and empowered communities.

In his inspirational message, Assistant Secretary Monteverde emphasized the significance of building trust to ensure meaningful community participation.

“Once we engage in participatory manner wherein, we inform all the sectors and all community members, yung makukuha natin yung sense of ownership. Pero paano mo siya maeengage? We need the trust from them,” Assistant Secretary Monteverde said during his inspirational message.

(Once we engage in participatory manner wherein, we inform all the sectors and all community members, we foster a strong sense of ownership. But how do we engage them? We need the trust from them.)

On the other hand, Director Villacorta highlighted the importance of a clear purpose to achieve effective community engagement.

“To start right we must begin with purpose para andoon yung ating determination. Determined tayo to achieve our objectives. To do that, we need to own the program. Kailangan alamin natin siya at kilalanin natin siya. Alamin na muna natin kung para saan, para kanino, at para saan itong ginagawa natin. So, I urge you to never view your community engagement as mere checklist,” Director Villacorta shared.

(To start right we must begin with purpose because that is where our determination comes from. We must be determined to achieve our objectives. To do that, we need to own the program. We have to understand it and truly know it. We must first ask ourselves what it is for, who it is for, and why we are doing it. So, I urge you to never view your community engagement as mere checklist.)

Aside from National Program Management Office, World Bank Social Development Specialist Josephine Jade also joined the training in Camarines Sur province to impart inputs for the project implementation.

The CRIP serves as the primary implementation process of the PCRP, which aims to strengthen community capacities for participatory resilience planning and increase access to resilient investments in vulnerable areas.

Following the rollout training, ACTs in 53 municipalities across the Bicol Region are set to conduct Municipal Resilience Team (MResT) Organizational Meeting this July 2026, which marks the formal engagement and implementation of PCRP in the communities.