The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), is calling on local governments, communities, partners, and the public to strengthen grassroots participation, shared accountability, and sustained local action in building resilient communities.
The call will take center stage during the 2026 National BayanI Ka! cum Tatak KALAHI-CIDSS Local Government Unit (LGU) awards and launching of the Performance-Based Grant for Sustainability (PBGS) on Tuesday (September 22) at the SM Sky Hall in Bacolod City.
With the theme, “Recognizing Excellence in Community-Driven Development (CDD): Sustaining Partnerships and Strengthening Local Governance by Building Resilient Communities,” the activity will bring together government officials, local government units (LGUs), community volunteers, development partners, and other stakeholders to recognize good practices and highlight how community-driven development can be sustained beyond individual projects.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the KALAHI-CIDSS program has consistently proven its capability to empower communities, fostering self-reliance and resilience against everyday challenges.
“For more than 2 decades, KALAHI-CIDSS has given communities the opportunity to identify their needs, set their priorities, manage resources, and help decide on the solutions. That is community-driven development or CDD in practice,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
“Ang totoong tagumpay ay hindi lang nasusukat sa proyektong natapos. Makikita rin ito sa mga taong natutong magplano, magtulungan, at magdesisyon para sa kanilang komunidad,” the DSWD chief added.
In DSWD’s KALAHI-CIDSS, the project is empowerment, while the subproject is a tangible output.
This approach puts people at the center of development and strengthens their capacity to help shape the future of their own communities.
Through the new modality, the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP), the DSWD continues to build on the CDD approach by promoting inclusive, participatory, and resilient local governance.
“The Bayani Ka! Awards and Tatak KALAHI-CIDSS LGU Awards will recognize individuals, groups, volunteers, and local governments that have demonstrated exemplary practices in community-driven development, including community participation, volunteerism, improved local governance, disaster risk reduction, gender and development, Indigenous Peoples’ welfare, and CDD institutionalization,” KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Atty. Bernadette A. Mapue-Joaquin said.
Beyond recognition, the awards celebrate good practices that others can learn from, build on, and sustain in their own communities.
Part of the event is the launching of the PBGS that further reinforces this commitment by encouraging high-performing partner LGUs to sustain the gains of community-driven development through stronger local systems, meaningful partnerships, and continued community participation.
“This is the spirit of Panahon ng Pagkilos: building on 22 years of KALAHI-CIDSS experience by strengthening communities’ capacity to participate, decide, and take collective action, while working with local governments and partners to sustain community-driven development and build resilient communities,” Atty. Mapue-Joaquin said.