Women power in DavaoWomen-volunteers  in Barangay Katipunan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte lead the construction of a 1,300-Linear Meter Drainage Canal worth P2.11 million through the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Kalahi-CIDSS-PAMANA).

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the core programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that aims to empower communities through enhanced participation in local governance and poverty alleviation projects. The program also promotes the inclusion of women in paid physical labor, planning and decision making for social development issues at the community level.

PAMANA, on the other hand, is a modality of Kalahi-CIDSS that provides conflict-affected barangays access to basic social services.

As of January 2016, Kalahi-CIDSS has a total of 289,100 women-volunteers nationwide​.

In Region XI, 54% of Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers are women. About 7,000 of these women volunteers have attended capacity building sessions, and 1,848 served as laborers in the construction of community sub-projects. ###