In celebration of the National Volunteer Month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognized 14 outstanding Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers from different parts of the country. The volunteers received a plaque of recognition during the DSWD’s Community-Driven Development Festival held recently at the Department’s Central Office.
As it joins the nation in celebration of the National Volunteer Month this December, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) paid tribute to its outstanding community volunteers from the different parts of the country who have been instrumental in the implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).
Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the major poverty-alleviation programs of the government implemented by the DSWD with the mandate of empowering targeted barangays and communities to achieve access to services using community-driven development approaches and to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation.
Elmer Obias, a community volunteer from Region V who was among those recognized by the DSWD, said that volunteers like him has “a heart that is always ready to help.”
One of the key features of the program is the involvement of the community in identifying the sub-projects that will address their most pressing needs. These sub-projects are implemented by the members of the community themselves who work together, volunteering their time and effort, to improve the condition of their community.
The DSWD recognized a total of 14 community volunteers who are the regional representatives of the Kalahi-CIDSS Community Volunteers Association of the Philippines. Among those who were honored for their contributions were Rita Campos from Region I, Gentry Tam-awe from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ariel Duque of Region III, Eulino Usolino from CALABARZON, Rey Traballo from MIMAROPA, and Elmer Obias from Region V.
Also recognized were Loreto Constantino, Jr. from Region VI, Julmar Bagwisa from Region VII, Atty. Aida Laruda of Region VIII, Dorotea Dalagea of Region IX, Nievan Llacuna from Region X, Royeca Palbe from Region XI, Mayvel Aquino from Region XII, and Vicente Gausin from CARAGA.
The volunteers received a plaque of recognition during the DSWD’s Community-Driven Development Festival held recently at the Department’s Central Office .
Significant partners in development
In his message during the event, which was read by DSWD Assistant Secretary and Kalahi-CIDSS Deputy National Program Director Rhea B. Peñaflor, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista highlighted the relentless contribution of the community volunteers in the effective implementation of the Department’s poverty-alleviation program.
“The Filipino practice of mutual cooperation or bayanihan system is already embedded in the innermost of our being as Filipinos. This is more exemplified in the relentless contribution of our community volunteers in almost all facets of services to the poor and needy. Our staff and community volunteers on the ground have been our indispensable partners to the effective implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS program,” the Secretary said.
Sec. Bautista said he commends the efforts of the community volunteers who have rendered their service to the poor and marginalized without seeking anything in return for their benevolence.
“This recognition is our gesture of appreciation for your untiring support in the service of our poor Filipinos. Truly, you have all been our significant partners in development,” he said.
A heart to help
Elmer Obias, a community volunteer from Region V who was among those recognized by the DSWD, said that volunteers like him has “a heart that is always ready to help.”
“Kaming volunteers, kusa naming binibigay ang aming oras at panahon ng walang hinihintay na kapalit (We volunteers give our time without expecting anything in return),” he said.
A person with disability (PWD), Elmer recalled being mocked and underestimated by other people because of his disability. He said many doubted him that he would still be able to volunteer due to his condition.
“Pero hindi ko inantala lahat ng pangungutya. Ang nasa puso ko at naming mga volunteers ay makatulong kami sa abot ng aming makakaya sa mga ka-barangay namin at sa maraming tao (I didn’t mind all that mockery. What’s in my heart and in the heart of my fellow volunteers is being able to help the people in our community as well as other people to the best of our ability),” he explained.
For Eugenio Ursolino, a community volunteer from CALABARZON who was also recognized by the DSWD, being a community volunteer is his ‘legacy’.
“Legacy namin ang pagiging community volunteers. Mawala man kami sa mundong ito, may maiiwan kaming legacy sa aming kumunidad (Being community volunteers is our legacy. When we depart from this world, we will have a legacy to leave in our community),” he said.
Also present during the awarding ceremony was Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) Executive Director Joselito de Vera who thanked the DSWD for celebrating the National Volunteer Month and for recognizing the contributions of its community-driven development workers.
In 2018, DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS has 934,339 community volunteers all over the country who, alongside the Department’s partner local government officials, have been instrumental in completing a total of 4,558 community development initiatives of sub-projects which benefited a total of 1.5 households nationwide. ###
