For Eloy who belongs to the Manobo tribe of Sitio Pong-Pong in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, writing his first name on a paper for the first time in his life is a dream come true. But writing his first name on an official document, also for the first time, is a fulfilment of a commitment to his tribe.

Eloy signed his name on a bank document required to open an account. The bank account was not his own, but for his village, which was one of the beneficiary communities of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), an anti-poverty program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Kalahi-CIDSS is the first government project to ever reach the hinterland of Sitio Pong-Pong.

Eloy had to open a bank account where the funds for the construction of their Kalahi-CIDSS project, a tribal housing system, would be sent in by the DSWD.

Before Kalahi-CIDSS reached the hinterland of Sitio Pong-pong, Eloy had no interest in learning to read and write.

“I do not even know my real name and age. They just call me ‘Eloy.’”
Eloy was raised in complete poverty and was unable to attend a formal education. But he did not feel inadequate and inferior.

“Education is of no value to the Manobos. That is why I never persisted to learn,” he explained.

“But because of the responsibility given to me by Kalahi-CIDSS as community sub-project management committee chair (CSPMC), I tried my best to write the four letters of my name,” Eloy added.

“My fellow Manobos relied on me for the realization of our tribal housing project under Kalahi-CIDSS,” Eloy said.

Determined to be a worthy leader

In spite of being unable to read and write, Eloy was elected to head the Community Sub-project Management Committee (CSPMC). This committee was formed to oversee the implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS project in the community. As chair, Eloy had to open the bank account.

“Together with Kalahi-CIDSS workers, I went to Tagum City to open the bank account. It was my first time to travel outside Talaingod and also my first time to enter a bank. I remember feeling very cold inside the bank that I had to get out from time to time,” Eloy recounted.

“When it was time for me to open the account, I affixed my thumbmark instead of my signature because I did not know then how to write my name. Unfortunately, the bank did not accept my thumbmark. I returned home discouraged and worried, because without the bank account, the DSWD cannot download our project funds, “Eloy further recounted.

“I could not lose hope. We badly needed the housing project. I had to learn how to write even just my first name,” Eloy said.

At first, the task of learning to write was difficult, but thanks to his Kalahi-CIDSS community facilitator, Marvin Samson, who prodded Eloy to practice writing, he managed to overcome this task.

“Marvin gave me a pad of paper and pencil. He patiently showed me how to write each letter. I held on to that piece of paper where he wrote my name as my guide,” Eloy recalled.

“My hand shook each time I tried to write a single letter. It took me two long weeks to learn to write the four letters of my name,” Eloy said.

Although Eloy had practiced writing his name a lot since then, there were still times when they were faced with challenges.

He related one instance when the bank did not clear the check that he signed. The stroke in the signature was different from the initial sample given to the bank. They had to pay a penalty of P2,000.00.

Today, Eloy can perfectly sign any document. What’s more, he has come to be known as a leader in his community. He became the voice of his fellow Manobos in lobbying community projects like school buildings and health stations.Nowadays, Eloy is still the CSPMC chair of Pong-Pong. Their barangay will be completing a tribal hall soon through Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA project.Gradually, Eloy has turned into a person who has limitless boundaries just by learning how to write his name.

Eloy expressed that he is grateful to Kalahi-CIDSS program not only because of the housing project but also for opening doors of opportunities for him. Kalahi-CIDSS helped him become more confident and made him relish the joy of learning on how to be a leader in his community.

KALAHI-CIDDS fosters sustainable development

Learning about the experience of Eloy, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman said that, “Kalahi-CIDSS develops the community volunteers’ leadership quality, confidence, and self-reliance. Leadership and governance are not just lodged on the leaders of the community, but also to the men and women living in the area.”

The KALAHI-CIDDS’ ten-year track record is sufficient proof that the program is effective in community empowerment and poverty alleviation.

Furthermore, Kalahi-CIDSS, which uses the community-driven development (CDD) approach, gives the citizenry the opportunity to have active control in deciding which community projects will be implemented in their villages.

“Kalahi-CIDSS encourages participation by building up individuals and capacitating communities to enable them to participate in development. Moreover through Kalahi-CIDSS, communities are not only given better access to services but are also empowered to work for what is best for them towards national development,” Secretary Soliman added.

Under Kalahi-CIDSS 1, which ran from January 2003 to May 2011, Kalahi-CIDSS reached 4,583 barangays in 200 municipalities that benefited 1, 345, 767 households. The program funded a total of 5,876 community projects amounting to 5.93 Billion pesos or 71 % including local counterpart contribution of PhP 1.71 Billion or 29%.

As of the first quarter of 2013, Kalahi-CIDSS Additional Financing (AF) funded 2,209 community sub-projects amounting to Php 2.5 billion including Local Counterpart Contribution of Php 544.74 million. Of the total funded, 1506 community projects were completed, benefiting approximately 531,354 households from 2,283 barangays.

On the other hand, Kalahi-CIDSS Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded a total of 1,603 community projects amounting to PhP 1.86 billion, which will benefit 283,363 households in 1,637 barangays. Of the total funded, it has completed the implementation of 853 community projects, benefiting 173,906 households.

The Kalahi-CIDSS will scale up into the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) starting late 2013. The NCDDP will increase the current coverage of Kalahi-CIDSS from 368 to 900 municipalities, thereby expanding its reach from 50% to 100% of the poorest municipalities in the country from 2013 to 2018.

The DSWD implements the Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on The Peace Process (OPAAP), to improve access of conflict-affected barangays affected by and vulnerable to basic social services and accountable governance by the community-driven development (CDD) strategy. As of April 2013, Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA has completed 191 community projects amounting to PhP121.01 million. ###