New Corella, Davao del Norte (18 May) -- The implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in this municipality will allow the residents "to embrace social change to improve their lives and the economy," said Mayor Nestor "Bebot" Alcoran.

"We need to give the people a sense of potential," said Alcoran as he put emphasis on the need to prepare the residents on their role in the community program.

The mayor was elated when informed his municipality was among the beneficiaries identified for the project as he believed this will give him another venue to retool the residents on how they can effectively participate in reducing poverty in their municipality.

"This approach is critical when we are talking about economic change. The idea is to change the way we think so that we can change the way we act," he said.

Well-designed

Alcoran pointed out that unlike other government-sponsored projects, KALAHI-CIDSS is a project that requires utmost participation of the people.

"The project is structured in such a way that different sectors are brought together, which leads participants to believe in themselves in addressing the needs of their community," he said.

With the participation of the community, there is the collective effort not only in identifying the project but also in implementing it. In this way, he explained, the people have that authority to choose what problem they want to solve, identify the solution and work on it.

Paradigm shift

This mechanism is a non-traditional approach to solving poverty especially in the countryside. Although he hastened to add that the municipality was chosen not only because its residents are poor, Alcoran explained the project will be one effective way to alleviate the condition of the people, particularly the poor.