Eight (8) community groups and partners were recognized during the 7th Regional Bayani Ka! Awards via Facebook livestream on Wednesday, December 1.

The Bayani Ka! Awards is an annual event of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS) to recognize community volunteers who took the initiative in improving their communities.

The recognition also aims to develop a pool of champions that will help in promoting the institutionalization of community-driven development (CDD). CDD is a globally recognized strategy that empowers communities in planning, budgeting and implementing community projects or interventions needed in their communities.

The organizations were nominated by the DSWD employees deployed in various municipalities implementing the program. The nomination is based on the impact and engagement of the volunteer groups who actively participated in instilling collective action.

These organizations were classified into eight categories: (1) gender and development, (2) elderly, (3) youth, (4) sustained community volunteer group, (5) indigenous people’s welfare, (6) persons with disability (PWD), (7) improved local governance, and (8) environmental protection.

The nominations were judged through a virtual desk review held last October 22. The technical working group was composed of partner-agency representatives, local government units and selected DSWD workers. Each regional awardee received a development incentive worth Php 20,000.00 and a plaque of recognition.

Here is the complete list of awardees:

Gender and Development Category
Awardee: Karibangbang – Pandan, Catanduanes

Elderly Category
Awardee: Pandan Senior Citizen Organization – Pandan, Catanduanes

Persons with Disability (PWD) Category
Awardee: Kalipunan at Samahan ng may Kapansanan Inc. (KASAMA KA Inc.)
– Barangay Poblacion Norte, Barcelona, Sorsogon

Youth Category
Awardee: Pandan Badminton Association – Pandan, Catanduanes

Sustained Community Volunteer Group Category
Awardee: San Andres Farmers and Fisherfolks Association – Barangay San
Andres, Pandan, Catanduanes

Improved Local Governance Category
Awardee: Local Government Unit of Pandan – Mayor’s Office

Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare Category
Awardee: Agta-Tabangnon – Barangay Sta. Maria, Presentacion, Camarines
Sur

Environment Protection Category
Kampeon ng Kalikasan – Pandan, Catanduanes