The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), called on local government units (LGUs), communities, partners, and the public to strengthen community participation, shared accountability, and sustained local action in building resilient communities.
The call took center stage during the 2026 National Bayani Ka! cum Tatak KALAHI-CIDSS LGU Awards and the launching of the Performance-Based Grant for Sustainability (PBGS) at the SM Sky Hall in Bacolod City on Tuesday, September 22.
With the theme “Recognizing Excellence in Community-Driven Development (CDD): Sustaining Partnerships and Strengthening Local Governance by Building Resilient Communities,” the event gathered government officials, LGUs, community volunteers, development partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate best practices and highlight how community-driven development can be sustained beyond individual projects.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the KALAHI-CIDSS program has consistently proven its ability to empower communities, fostering self-reliance and resilience against everyday challenges.
“For more than two decades, KALAHI-CIDSS has given communities the opportunity to identify their needs, set their priorities, manage resources, and help decide on solutions. That is community-driven development in practice,” Gatchalian said, as he thanked all those who have worked to make it happen.
“True success is not measured solely by completed projects. It is also reflected in the people who learned to plan, cooperate, and make decisions for their community,” the DSWD chief added.
Under DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS, the overarching goal is empowerment, while physical infrastructure and subprojects serve as tangible outputs. This approach puts people at the center of development and strengthens their capacity to shape their community’s future.
Currently, through its new modality— Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP)—the DSWD continues to expand on the CDD approach by promoting inclusive, participatory, and resilient local governance.
“The Bayani Ka! Awards and Tatak KALAHI-CIDSS LGU Awards 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,” stressed KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Bernadette A. Mapue-Joaquin.
Beyond recognition, the awards celebrate good practices that other communities can learn from, build upon, and sustain, she said.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the PBGS, which 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 alongside local governments and partners to sustain community-driven development and build resilient communities,” Mapue-Joaquin said.
Meanwhile, the DSWD and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) formalized a partnership through a ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing, reaffirming the importance of collaboration in advancing inclusive, community-centered development.*
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