The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Nabua in Camarines Sur has institutionalized the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services.

The Municipal Ordinance no. 040-2024 also known as an Ordinance Institutionalizing the CDD approach in the Identification, Prioritization, Resources Allocation of Locally Funded Programs and Projects and adopting some of the activities in the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) as the strategy in pursuing and attaining development goals in the Municipal of Nabua, Camarines Sur was enacted on December 17, 2024.

According to Atty. Fernando D. Simbulan, Municipal Mayor of Nabua, the LGU is taking a significant step toward sustaining active community participation and empowerment.

“By embedding CDD principles into our local policies, we ensure that decision-making remains inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the real needs of our people,” he shared.

He also added that the ordinance guarantees that the voices of the citizens, especially those from marginalized sectors, will continue to be heard and valued in shaping the future of the municipality.

Through the CDD strategy implemented by KALAHI-CIDSS in the municipality, it has encouraged individuals to actively participate in the development process and facilitated increased cooperation between the local leaders and the citizens.

Mayor Simbulan also envisions that the development of the municipality will be community-led, where every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to progress and every sector plays an active role in shaping the future.

“With the institutionalization of CDD, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, resilient, and self-reliant community,” he noted.

As stated in the ordinance, the municipality adopted and institutionalized the Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA) as a method of collecting, sharing, and analyzing information on the prevailing situation of the community. The results of the PSA will be used as basis for the crafting of the development plans of the barangays and the municipality.

Utilizing a counterparting arrangement between the community and the Barangay or Municipal Local Government Unit, funding will be allocated for local projects, similar to what was done during the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS subprojects.

Community volunteerism will also be encouraged when implementing local projects. To monitor the sustainability of locally funded projects, an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Group will be established, and an O&M plan will be developed for each project that was completed and funded under the counterparting scheme.

No barangay project will be included in the Comprehensive Development Plan or other lists of projects for funding allocation unless it has been identified during the PSA workshop and approved by the community in a barangay assembly. This is to guarantee the institutionalization of the CDD approach.

At least 20% of the MLGU’s 20% Economic Development Fund must be set aside as local counterpart contribution in order to guarantee the counterparting system in the execution of local projects.

Regional Director Norman S. Laurio lauded the LGU for supporting the CDD strategy by passing an ordinance.

“This innovative action demonstrates the municipality’s ongoing dedication to strengthening local communities, encouraging participation in local governance, and ensuring inclusivity,” he said.

Director Laurio also continued that through the ordinance, the LGU commits to amplifying the people’s voices that remain as a crucial component of development planning and decision-making in the development process.