DSWD targets to train more than 7,000 residents on project proposal making as part of the Project Development Workshop (PDW) conducted through Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services).

The said training started last March and will end this April in 88 municipalities and 2,490 communities are the recipients of the training.

The residents trained in PDW were those members of the Project Preparation Team (PPT) elected during the first Barangay Assembly (BA) done in the last quarter of 2014.

“We will download the 2.3 billion to the communities prioritized for Kalahi-CIDSS funding so we need to train them on how to develop project proposals to get the funding and address their needs in a timely manner,” DSWD Dir. Garcia said.

The main purpose of PDW is to train residents on how to prepare detailed community project proposals for public goods, community enterprise, and/or human resource development and capability building subprojects. These include training on feasibility study preparation, technical design of community infrastructure and public works projects, preparation of implementation plans and program of work, community procurement, community finance, and integration of environmental and social management plan (ESMP) and mitigating measures.

Remigio Capobres, an elderly of Brgy. Tuba, Donsol, is one of the elected PPT members who traveled on foot for about an hour from their community to the venue to attend the two-day PDW.

“Gusto ko pa matuto sa mga isinasagawang trainings ng Kalahi-CIDSS bilang tulong sa aming barangay sa pghahanda kung sakaling palarin nang mabigyan ng pondo ang matagal na naming pangarap na proyekto, ang mgkaroon ng konkretong daanan (I want to learn from the trainings of Kalahi-CIDSS to help our village prosper once our dream project, concrete pathway, becomes eligible for funding,” he said.

PPT is formed to lead in the preparation of community proposals for sub-projects recommended by the barangays for prioritization in subsequent project activities, or for submission to possible funding groups and by Kalahi-CIDSS. It is composed of a minimum of three (3) members per barangay, at least one of which should be a woman.

For 2014-2015, there are about 7,000 residents elected as members of PPT. Aside from PPT, there are other groups formed under Kalahi-CIDSS through (BA) that will serve as the frontline implementers of community project the people identified themselves.

To date, DSWD is expecting 1,186 community proposals for the 2014-2015 implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS. Communities prioritized for Kalahi-CIDSS funding were selected based on the community’s population, number of poor households and damage affected households (Typhoon Glenda, Super Typhoon Yolanda).

“Kalahi-CIDSS invests on human development. The construction of community projects is just our instrument to promote empowerment through people participation,” Dir. Garcia added.