Senator Imee R. Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, signified her continued support for the Department of Social Welfare Development's programs and services during the DSWD-sponsored National Consultative Meeting with Local Chief Executives at the SMX Convention Center in Angeles City, Pampanga on Wednesday, 8 November.

Senator Marcos was the guest of honor at the DSWD event which was spearheaded by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Department.

"I know that the Kalahi-CIDSS program has been overhauled and it is in the hands of our local chief executives to choose the various projects that are needed," Sen. Marcos told DSWD officials led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

Kalahi-CIDSS trains and engages communities together with their local governments to choose, design, and implement development projects to address their most pressing needs

The program also helps communities in poor municipalities identify challenges around reducing poverty and make informed decisions on a range of locally identified options for development.

The DSWD chief, in his opening message, cited the important role of the local chief executives in improving access to basic services and enhancing the lives of the Filipino people, especially those in the under-served communities in the country.

The national consultative meeting was aimed at providing a venue for an interactive engagement with the implementing local government units to discuss the project's milestones, encountered challenges, issues and concerns, and ways forward to further enhance the program.

In her impromptu speech, Senator Marcos emphasized the need to immediately assist the typhoon and disaster-affected individuals and communities, especially the poor and vulnerable sectors, those with special cases, and the indigenous peoples.

"We also have disaster and typhoon-affected individuals. Some fishermen and farmers have just been hit by a typhoon… We need to help immediately, along with poor and vulnerable communities, those with special cases like Socorro, along with indigenous peoples," she explained.

Senator Marcos also underscored the important roles of the LCEs and LGUs in the successful implementation of the programs and services that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people.

"I believe that no one knows more about their jurisdiction than the local officials. The mayor is the expert in their areas…. We count on you," the senator said.

Senator Marcos continued: "First of all, infrastructure, artificial wells, water, this is very important… Those are the things we need. The social infrastructure, hospitals, let's strengthen Rural Health Units and education."

"So now we have the barangays and the municipalities and they are allowed to choose the projects that they wish—infrastructure, social protection, and all other modalities of cash-for-work," the senator said.