LOCAL Chief Executives (LCEs), whose municipalities were chosen to become beneficiaries of Makamasang Tugon, convened on Wednesday to be equipped on how to implement effectively a project spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Makamasang Tugon is an implementation modality under the Kalahi-CIDSS Project, a community-driven development (CDD) strategy aiming to improve local governance, alleviate poverty and to empower communities. It integrates CDD principles and processes in the local planning and investment programming cycle by way of an LGU-led implementation scheme through the Kalahi-CIDSS technology.
From the municipalities of Libjo, Socorro, Pilar, Jabonga and Loreto in Caraga Region; Concepcion and Lopez Jaena in Misamis Occidental; and Bacolod in Lanao del Norte, the LCEs, who were also joined by their planning and development officers, social welfare officers and local government operations officers, were able to see the intent of Makamasang Tugon and how it had previously brought an impact in other Makamasang Tugon municipalities.
Lawyer Araceli F. Solamillo, DSWD-Northern Mindanao director, said the project will allocate a municipal grant pool of P500,000 multiplied by the total number of barangays of the municipality, with a corresponding cash and in-kind counterpart from the municipal and barangay local government units.
"In turn, the municipal governments are also going to enhance their local development fund allocation, execution and evaluation capabilities of community people," Solamillo said.
Aldersey Mumar-Dela Cruz also said the Makamasang Tugon will be formally launched in these municipalities by September 2010 and that the DSWD will continue to provide technical assistance to these municipalities as they implement the Project in their respective areas.
Some civic society groups and the Department of Interior and Local Government were also invited in the orientation to have them involved in the implementation of the project through provision of resources. (PR)