The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region inaugurated its Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) regional office Aug. 28, in Barangay East Balabag, Valencia town in Negros Oriental.
Kalahi-CIDSS deputy national program manager for Support Services Didith Bosoen and DSWD-NIR director Arwin Razo spearheaded the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, witnessed by Jimalalud Mayor Hazel Tuanda, Vallehermosa Sangguniang Bayan secretary Jordan Bernus, and East Balabag punong barangay Greta Vincoy, among others.
Rev. Fr. Dennis Galan of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish blessed the building, the DSWD-NIR said in a statement.
In her message delivered by Bosoen, Atty. Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin, Kalahi-CIDSS national program manager, said that with the opening of the new office, “we also open wider doors to service to our communities, and to advance the institutionalization of community-driven development.”
This is more than the establishment of a physical office; it is a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and our steadfast dedication to the communities we serve, she said, adding that “this milestone underscores the commitment of the DSWD, through Kalahi-CIDSS, to empower communities, strengthen systems, sustain progress, and build resilience for the future.”
Through the Kalahi-CIDSS program, communities don’t just receive project, as people in towns and barangays take the lead in planning, budgeting, and implementing projects that truly matter to them.
These include bridges that connect isolated villages, schools and markets, and health centers that bring services closer to families, projects that show how communities can turn collective action into lasting change, the DSWD said.
Kalahi-CIDSS proves that when people are empowered to decide and act, development becomes more than just infrastructure; it becomes a story of unity, resilience, and hope, it added. ||
