In an effort to strengthen the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it will hold a National Consultative Meeting with local chief executives on Wednesday, 8 November, at the SMX Convention Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian will meet with some 650 local chief executives and representatives of various local government units who will attend the National Consultative Meeting.

The Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine government being implemented by the DSWD.

It uses the Community-Driven Development approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction and good governance outcomes.

The attending LCEs from Luzon, Visayas,and Mindanao are from select LGUs implementing the Kalahi-CIDSS National Community Driven Development Program-Additional Financing and the Philippine Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project.

"We will conduct this meeting to ensure that implementing LGUs are engaged and involved in designing and employing strategies to maximize the impact of the program, and increase their level of involvement and participation in joint and more aggressive efforts in the completion of community sub-projects," DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.

The National Consultative Meeting aims to provide a venue for the implementing LGUs to discuss the project's milestones,challenges, issues and concerns, and ways forward to further enhance the program.

Lopez, also the DSWD spokesperson, explained that the experiences of the LCEs in the implementation of sub-projects under Kalahi-CIDSS will help the Department and other LGUs to strengthen and further improve their community projects.

Other government agencies expected to join the consultative meeting are the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways and the DSWD-attached agency National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, among others,

Also participating in the Kalahi-CIDDS event are Gawad Kalinga, Manila Water Foundation, non-government organizations and other partner organizations.