DSWD trains volunteers on finance management

COMPOSTELA, Compostela Valley – The KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a Financial Management System Training for the new Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) treasurers and bookkeepers from the 16 targeted barangays here.

Initiated by the KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP Area Coordinating Team of Compostela town, the activity intends to accelerate volunteers’ development in managing financial trans- actions and reports for KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP sub-project implementation.

Further, it aims to intensify the training and capacity-building of the community in inclusive local planning, budgeting and implementation.

“We did not source out facilitators from the regional staff of KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP. The resource persons in the said activity are old KALAHI volunteers who are skilled and knowledgeable with the task,” shares Jackie Ruta, Area Coordinator of KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP in Compostela.

Maezy Jacinto, one of the resource persons and a KALAHI-CIDSS volunteer for nearly 3 years is immensely thankful for the opportunity given.

“Usahay, kung kabalo ka na mas taas og posisyon sa imo ang magtudlo, maulaw ka mangutana sa imong wala nasabtan. Pero tungod kay pareho ra og posisyon ang mga mutudlo ug kauban ra sa komunidad, mas dali mangutana sa ilang kapunongan. (Sometimes when facilitators hold higher po- sitions than we do, we feel hesitant to ask questions. But if you are on the same level, it’s easy to ask and speak up).”

“Kaya namo ang pagbag-o kay gitabangan mi sa gobyerno nga molambo ang among kaalam pinaagi sa mga aktibidades nga ilang gitudlo ug gitabang sa amoa (We can change for the better because the government helped us improve our knowledge through various capacity-building activities), Jacinto said.

Ruta pointed out they are now able to submit their transaction docu- ments on time and are already capable of training new volunteers in the barangays. “We have just taught basic procurement and budgeting procedures to a total of 60 BSPMC treasurers from the 16 barangays here.”

KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP (National Community-Driven Development Program), a scale up of KALAHI-CIDSS, is a poverty reduction program of the National Government implemented by DSWD.

In 2014, it targets to cover 16 municipalities in Region XI, namely; Maco, Monkayo, Nabunturan, Pantukan, New Bataan, Boston, Manay, Tarragona, Governor Generoso, San Isidro, Caraga, Cateel, Kapalong, New Corella, Malita, and Compostela.

To date, a total of 51 KC-NCDDP sub-projects have been completed in Compostela. Another six sub-projects will be constructed for the 4th cycle of KALAHI CIDSS PAMANA, and six classroom building sub-projects through KALAHI CIDSS Australian AID.