Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2537 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT APPROACH 
AS A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, 
MANDATING 
ALL 
NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES 
AND 
DEPARTMENTS, 
INCLUDING 
THEIR 
ATTACHED 
AGENCIES, 
OFFICES 
AND 
BUREAUS, 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, 
AND 
OTHER 
GOVERNMENT 
INSTRUMENTALITIES 
TO 
IMPLEMENT THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROJECTS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sustainable and inclusive development is most effective when communities are given the 
opportunity, tools, and support to actively participate in shaping their future. The 
Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach embraces this principle by recognizing that 
communities, particularly those that are poor, vulnerable, and marginalized, are not merely 
recipients of aid but active agents of change. 
CDD allows citizens to take part in every stage of local development: from identifying and 
prioritizing needs, to planning and budgeting, to implementing and monitoring programs and 
projects. This inclusive and participatory model promotes transparency, strengthens accountability, 
and builds local ownership, all of which are essential in making development efforts more relevant, 
efficient, and sustainable. 
Since its introduction in 2003 through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and 
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program under the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), CDD has empowered thousands of communities across the 
Philippines. Through Kalahi-CIDSS, barangays have successfully implemented small-scale 
infrastructure, livelihood initiatives, and disaster resilience efforts, all while strengthening 
grassroots governance and social capital. 
However, despite its positive outcomes, the CDD approach remains program-based and 
project-limited. Community participation is often restricted to representation in local development 
councils or sectoral committees, as provided by the Local Government Code. 
July 29, 2025
6:15 pm


Thus, this bill seeks to institutionalize the CDD approach as a national strategy for inclusive growth, 
community empowerment, and social protection. By doing so, it ensures that all national 
government agencies, local government units, and relevant public institutions adopt and integrate 
participatory, community-based approaches in the planning, budgeting, and implementation of 
their programs and activities. 
Institutionalizing CDD is not simply a policy shift but a commitment to deepen participatory 
democracy and strengthen the accountability of public institutions. It aligns with our national 
development goals and international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, 
by placing people at the heart of development. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is respectfully and earnestly sought. 
MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
Representative 
3rd District, Cotabato Province 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2537 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT APPROACH 
AS A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, 
MANDATING 
ALL 
NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES 
AND 
DEPARTMENTS, 
INCLUDING 
THEIR 
ATTACHED 
AGENCIES, 
OFFICES 
AND 
BUREAUS, 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, 
AND 
OTHER 
GOVERNMENT 
INSTRUMENTALITIES 
TO 
IMPLEMENT THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROJECTS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1 Short Title. This Act shall be known as the Community-Driven Development 
(CDD) Institutionalization Act of 2024.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. The 1987 Constitution establishes the right of the
people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of 
social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by 
law, facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms (Article XIII, Section 
16). Towards this end, and in pursuit of inclusive growth, social protection, community 
empowerment, and poverty reduction, the State shall enact programs that provide 
capacities and opportunities for community members — particularly the poor, vulnerable 
and disadvantaged — to effectively participate in the design, planning, budgeting, and 
implementation of community identified programs, plans, and projects.  
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this Act, the following terms are 
defined, as follows:  
1. Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) refers to a
long-term plan that embodies the goals and objectives, policies and strategies as


well as programs, projects of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous 
Peoples (IPs) for the sustainable development and management of their ancestral 
domain and all resources therein including human and cultural resources such as 
their indigenous knowledge, systems and practices (NCIP AO No. 01, Series of 2014).  
 
2.​ Barangay Assembly (BA) refers to a gathering of barangay residents who are Filipino, 
at least 15 years old and above, and listed in the barangay records as members of the 
BA (RA 7160). 
 
3.​ CDD Community of Practice (CDD CoP) refers to a community of CDD practitioners, 
which is comprised of agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic and 
research institutions, and individuals, that share the commitment and passion for 
CDD, and together strive to advance its practice through regular and purposive 
interaction. 
 
4.​ Community refers to a group of people living in a particular locality or geographical 
area, the location in which interventions are implemented. It may be a barangay, 
ancestral domain, or specific subsets thereof.  
 
5.​ Community action plan refers to plans formulated by community members as a 
result of a participatory activity where communities identify their key problems and 
development challenges and identify solutions that can be implemented to address 
these challenges.  
 
6.​ Community-based financial management refers to the management and direct 
control by the community members or groups of funds associated with a community 
identified and managed project. 
 
7.​ Community-based procurement refers to an approach in implementing Negotiated 
Procurement-Community Participation modality whereby the Barangay Local 
Government Unit (BLGU) and/or the community group(s) directly and/or jointly 
manage 
the 
planning, 
procurement, 
implementation 
and 
monitoring 
of 
community-based 
projects. 
This 
can 
be used interchangeably with the 
community-based procurement  
 
8.​ Community-Based Programs refers to programs, activities, or projects that are 
organized and implemented locally. By design, community-based programs invite 
community members or groups to actively design, plan, and implement intervention 
strategies to address community-identified plans and needs. 
 
9.​ Community control of resources refers to the utilization and management of the 
resources by the community members or groups based on community-identified 
plans and needs.  
 
10.​Community-Driven Development refers to a development approach that gives control 
of the development process, decisions-making, and resources to community 


members or groups in the locality. It treats people as assets and partners in the 
development process, building on their institutions and resources. 
 
11.​Community Empowerment refers to a process of enabling community members and 
groups to increase control over the factors and decisions that shape their lives. It is 
the process by which they increase their assets and attributes, and build capacities 
to gain access, partners, networks, and voice, in order to gain control. It is more than 
the involvement, participation or engagement of communities. It implies community 
ownership and collective action towards a specific objective, in this case local 
development. 
 
12.​Community focus refers to programs, activities, or projects that put primacy on the 
whole community. 
 
13.​Community grants refers to the financial assistance provided to communities 
implementing the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated 
Delivery of Social Sen/ices (Kalahi-CIDSS) program. It can be in a form of planning 
or investment grant and will be used to fund community project proposals.  
 
14.​Community-managed 
implementation 
refers 
to 
execution, 
implementation, 
monitoring, and contract management of community-identified projects by 
community members or groups, with assistance from the Local Government Units 
(LGUs) and other local partners. 
 
15.​Community members refers to all the residents of the locality, the barangay, ancestral 
domain, or specific subsets thereof.  
 
16.​Community Organizing refers to a longer-term engagement and empowerment 
process by which members of communities are brought together to act collectively 
on their shared interests, to identify community problems and solutions, and to take 
action. The long-term objectives of community organizing are to develop the 
internal capabilities and to increase decision-making power and influence of 
underrepresented groups in the community. 
 
17.​Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) refers to a group of community 
volunteers elected by the community members to provide overall management of 
the 
community-based 
projects 
and 
oversee 
implementation, 
monitoring, 
completion, maintenance, and sustainability. 
 
18.​Displaced population refers to people being forcefully moved from their locality or 
environment and occupational activities. It is a form of social change caused by a 
number of factors such as armed conflict, natural disaster, famine, development and 
economic changes (DSWD MC No. 10, Series of 2017).  
 
19.​Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) refers to communities with 
marginalized population physically and socioeconomically separated from the 


mainstream society and characterized by physical factors (isolated due to distance, 
weather conditions and transportation difficulties - island, upland, lowland, 
landlocked, 
hard-to-reach 
and 
unserved/underserved 
communities) 
and 
socio-economic factors (high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable sector, 
communities in or recovering from situation of crisis or armed conflict) (Bureau of 
Local Health Development, DOH).  
 
20.​Graduation Year refers to the final year wherein the Kalahi-CIDSS program is 
committed to provide formal programmatic support to a community because it will 
transition to a fully LGU-led implementation of community driven development 
programs.  
 
21.​Horizontal and vertical linkages refers to the alignment of funding allocation and 
technical support of national government sector agencies with the identified needs 
of communities, as integrated in various local development plans, and the ability of 
the community members and groups to access funding resources and technical 
support from various agencies and institutions. The aim is to ensure the 
complementation of plans and strategies by different agencies and institutions that 
is anchored on evidence-based and participatory planning. 
 
22.​One Social Preparation refers to the harmonized social preparation process of 
various Social Welfare Development programs. It refers to the conduct of common 
activities at the community level for community assessment, identification of needs 
and interventions, and the preparation of community action plans, which will be the 
basis for funding by different development stakeholders. 
 
23.​Participatory monitoring and evaluation refers to a process through which 
stakeholders at various levels of the community engage in monitoring and 
evaluation of a project, program, or policy, share control over the content, the 
process and the results of the monitoring and evaluation activity, and engage in 
taking or identifying corrective actions. Systematically, it relies on the active 
engagement of the primary internal stakeholders as the actors that accomplish the 
systematic recording and periodic analysis of information that they themselves have 
chosen and recorded. The primary stakeholders shall be the community members. 
 
24.​Participatory planning refers to a planning process that directly involves the 
community members, leaders, and other stakeholders in diagnosing local problems 
and designing a course of action to resolve those problems. The process aims to 
harmonize views among all of its participants and to provide opportunities for 
participation especially for the marginalized groups in the community. 
 
25.​Social Preparation refers to a process to prepare and fully capacitate the community 
to become ready and responsible implementers of programs, projects and activities. 
It must include activities to (i) identify, analyze and prioritize needs, and identify 
solutions to address needs; (ii) prepare proposals, studies, and technical designs and 


financial plans; (Hi) form committees and task groups; and (iv) build capacity and 
capability to undertake the project activities (DSWD MC No. 04, Series of 2016). 
 
26.​Social Protection refers to a set of policies and programs that seek to reduce poverty 
and vulnerability to risks and enhance the social status and rights of the 
marginalized by promoting and protecting livelihood and employment, protecting 
against hazards and sudden loss of income, and improving people's capacity to 
manage risks (NEDA-SDC Cabinet Resolution No. 1, series of 2007). 
 
27.​Whole-of-Government 
Approach 
(WGA) 
refers 
to 
a 
strategy 
where 
all 
instrumentalities of the government are taking unified and integrated action in 
order to provide a common solution to a particular problem or issue. For CDD 
Institutionalization, the WGA is a logical and systematic convergence of efforts of 
government agencies and local government units to respond to the identified 
community needs, issues, concerns, and priorities  
 
SEC. 4. Elements of CDD. A CDD approach is a strategy where local communities 
take control in the planning, implementing and resource investments for their local 
development. CDD ensures that programs integrate the principles of local empowerment, 
participatory governance, demand-responsiveness, administrative autonomy, greater 
downward accountability and enhanced local capacity. Based on the ASEAN Regional 
Program for Capacity Development to Enhance Accountability of Local Governance in 
delivering Social Protection Programs through CDD, the CDD process happens when all of 
these elements are present: (1) community focus, (2) participatory planning, (3) 
community control of resources, (4) community-managed projects, and (5) participatory 
monitoring and evaluation. CDD includes but is not limited to the following processes and 
activities:  
 
a)​ Community empowerment process - a defined and ordered set of community 
development 
activities 
that 
enable 
communities 
to 
have 
control 
over 
decision-making and resource allocation to meet their priority needs and allow local 
governments to provide effective and quick response to such needs. 
 
b)​ Delivery mechanisms - a set of project implementation and procurement systems 
that facilitate delivery of services to local communities. 
 
c)​ Intergovernmental fiscal transfers - existence of legally mandated regulations that 
authorize fiscal transfers from the national government to barangay-level 
governments and local communities. 
 
d)​ Governance mechanisms - presence of formal arrangements for structural 
mechanisms and policy reforms for greater participation, rule of law, transparency, 
responsiveness, inclusiveness, and accountability of local governments in 
performing their mandated functions, and allowing community members, 
particularly those most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized, to have access 
to the systems of local governance  


 
Article I.  
Institutionalization of the CDD Approach in government programs, activities, and 
projects 
 
SEC. 5. Institutionalization of the CDD Approach in all community based 
programs, activities and projects of government. All National Government Agencies 
(NGAs) and Departments, including their Attached Agencies, Offices and Bureaus, Local 
Government Units, and other government instrumentalities shall adopt the CDD approach 
in implementing their community-based programs, activities, and projects to promote 
participation and empowerment of poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized 
communities and groups within communities.  
 
SEC. 6. Operationalization of the CDD approach in NGAs. The CDD approach shall 
be operationalized in government programs, activities and projects (PAPs) using the 
following methods and strategies, or a combination thereof, but not limited to:  
 
a.​ Government agencies shall develop policies and programs, provide information on 
government intervention, and provide technical assistance and support to the 
partner 
local 
government 
units 
and 
communities 
for 
more 
effective 
community-driven planning and implementation, in consultation with Advisory 
Council, provided in Chapter III, Section 15 of this Act; 
 
b.​ Government PAPs that have elements of local planning, budgeting, and development 
process shall ensure that majority of the community members actively participate in 
said process; 
 
c.​ Government agencies shall regularly align community action plans, as discussed in 
Chapter II, Section 14 of this Act, to agency PAPs, and ensure that identified 
community priorities are sufficiently funded; 
 
d.​ Government 
agencies 
shall 
use 
mechanisms 
for 
community-managed 
implementation, as defined in Chapter III, Section 18-19 of this Act, in the 
implementation of projects funded under the government PAPs; 
 
e.​ Government agencies shall ensure that community members are prioritized, to the 
extent possible, in receiving employment opportunities brought about by project 
implementation at the communities; 
 
f.​ Government agencies shall include in their annual budget proposals and multi-year 
plans funds for CDD implementation such as but not limited to capacity building, 
staffing, and project management; and 
 
g.​ Government agencies shall accredit Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as partners in 
organizing 
and 
strengthening 
communities, 
and 
implementation 
of 
community-based PPAs.  


 
SEC. 7. Localization of the CDD approach in LGUs. Under the guidance of the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the LGUs shall be primarily 
responsible for:  
 
a.​ Developing policies for enhancing participatory local governance practices, 
improving local development planning process, giving space to community 
organizations, and responding to community needs;  
 
b.​ Providing information on government intervention, technical assistance, and 
support to communities for more effective community-driven planning and 
implementation;  
 
c.​ Ensuring that community priorities and action plans are integrated in the barangay 
and municipal development plans and Annual Investment Programs (AIP), and 
ensure that identified community priorities are sufficiently funded, which may be 
sourced from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and/or other funds to which 
they may have access to;  
 
d.​ Including in their AIP and multi-year plans funds for CDD implementation such as 
but not limited to staffing, community empowerment activities, and resources to 
initiate and sustain CDD projects;  
 
e.​ Supporting the engaged residents and subsequent organizations formed to sustain 
the CDD projects as well as their gains, and impact; f. Accrediting and ensuring 
participation of CSOs as partners in organizing and strengthening communities, and 
implementation of community-based projects;  
 
f.​ Ensuring that engaged and accredited service providers under their supervision 
shall be justly compensated, that adequate funds are made available, and their 
working conditions are conducive to fulfill national quality standards; and  
 
g.​ Conducting monitoring, and evaluation activities and enabling community members 
to meaningfully participate in data gathering, processing and analysis, and especially 
in data utilization for their own development.  
 
In accordance with the Local Government Code, local governments shall adhere to 
the layers of local authority and supervision, from provinces, to component cities and 
municipalities, and to barangays, in implementing LGU-led CDD programs. 
 
SEC. 8. Role of Civil Society Organization and the Academe. Accredited CSOs and 
academic institutions with experience in the CDD approach shall be encouraged to 
participate in community activities, specifically:  
 
a.​ Partner with communities/LGUs/NGAs in facilitation of community empowerment 
processes;  


 
b.​ Provide additional funding or collaborate with partners/donors to implement 
community-identified projects;  
 
c.​ Continuous capacity building and technology transfer to LGUs and communities; and  
 
d.​ Conduct third party monitoring and evaluation together with communities and 
LGUs. 
 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with 
the Department of Budget Management (DBM) and Commission on Audit (COA), and in 
consultation with other relevant national government agencies and the local government 
concerned, shall implement a simplified set of guidelines for CSO accreditation and for 
providing an enabling environment for communities to participate in CDD implementation.  
 
Article II.  
Institutionalization of Kalahi-CIDSS Program  
 
SEC. 9. Kalahi-CIDSS as a CDD program of the government for community 
empowerment. Kalahi-CIDSS is hereby institutionalized as a CDD program of the 
government for community empowerment. Its mandate is to ensure that communities 
become empowered to achieve increased access to basic social services and improved 
resilience to disaster and other shocks, and to participate in more inclusive local planning, 
budgeting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of local development activities.  
 
SEC. 10. DSWD as implementing agency. The DSWD shall implement the 
Kalahi-CIDSS program, using the CDD approach in targeted poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged, 
and marginalized communities. It shall establish a working mechanism for convergence of 
social welfare and development (SWD) programs at the local level by ensuring a single 
harmonized, comprehensive social preparation process, that emphasizes identification of 
needs and defining vulnerabilities at the grassroots through a participatory action process 
and its contribution to increasing resiliency of poor communities.  
 
SEC. 11. Coverage and Phasing. The Kalahi-CIDSS Program will focus on the poor 
communities, and gradually expand coverage to all cities, municipalities, and special 
communities. The phasing of the implementation and expansion will be based on the 
approval of the Advisory Council.  
 
The special communities shall refer to areas with characteristics that would make it 
difficult to meet graduation requirements, such as but not limited to communities with 
historically high magnitude and incidence of poverty, marginalization, and vulnerability, 
needing special intervention from DSWD which include, among others, GIDA areas, 
marginalized, and vulnerable sectors. The limitation of the areas to be covered under the 
special communities shall be based on the criteria approved by the Advisory Council. 
 


All target municipalities shall be provided with capacity building, facilitation, and 
community grants. The entire implementation process will follow the regular planning and 
budgeting cycle of the local government. The Advisory Council, upon recommendations of 
DSWD, shall approve the criteria for assessing whether a municipality will need another 
round of intervention or will be endorsed for gradual withdrawal of the complete package 
of intervention, ensuring that mechanisms for sustainability are in place, until graduation 
year.  
 
SEC. 12. Funding and Resource Mobilization. Kalahi-CIDSS will provide 
community grants to poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities to 
fund community project proposals selected through a criteria based prioritization process 
by the expanded Local Development Council (LDC). The Program will employ a menu that 
allows the community to choose any activity that it considers to be important for its 
development, provided that support for projects with adverse environmental and social 
impacts shall not be allowed. Kalahi-CIDSS will also provide technical support to 
communities and local government units in mobilizing resources from Provincial LGUs, 
Civil Society Organizations, People's Organizations, and National Government Agencies for 
unaddressed priorities in the Local Development Plans specifically for big ticket PAPs which 
cannot be funded through local resources. The DSWD is directed to include resource 
requirements for nationwide implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS, and ensure it is included in 
its annual budget priority and such other appropriate funding sources as the DBM may 
identify. The LGU shall put up counterpart funds in the form of cash and/or in-kind which 
may be sourced from the IRA of the government unit. Members of the community and 
private individuals/institutions including foreign organizations may also contribute to the 
project.  
 
SEC. 13. Community Project Management Committee (CPMC). The committee 
shall take care of the overall management of projects funded under Kalahi-CIDSS following 
the mechanisms for community-managed implementation. This is composed of smaller 
project implementation committees where members are elected through the Barangay 
Assembly. Under the guidance of the Barangay Development Council (BDC), it shall also 
formulate policies and make decisions for the project. It shall oversee project 
implementation, monitoring, maintenance and sustainability after project completion.  
 
SEC. 14. Community Empowerment Process. The DSWD, through Kalahi-CIDSS, 
will provide facilitation support to empower community members to participate in the 
local development process:  
 
a.​ Social Preparation. DSWD will employ the One Social Preparation approach to 
complement with other SWD processes and interventions and provide a platform for 
other SWD social preparation needs. The comprehensive social preparation process 
and community action plan development shall be a venue for validation and 
reporting of SWD interventions, which shall be used as input to the local 
development planning, and as basis for NGA targeting mechanisms and 
interventions. DSWD will ensure strategic solutions are arrived by community 
members by employing participatory tools and technologies. Communities will be 


oriented towards better planning, and proposing more strategic solutions that 
ensure efficient use of scarce resources and reduce vulnerability. The Municipal 
Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) shall oversee and provide technical 
support and guidance to LGUs to ensure the quality of citizens' participation in the 
local decision making processes.  
 
b.​ Community Planning, Project Proposal Development and Appraisal. The DSWD, in 
partnership with DILG, shall ensure that community action plans will be 
incorporated into the local development plans and ensure the integration of local 
development plans to the national development plans ensuring that programs, 
activities, 
and 
projects 
prioritized 
for 
funding 
are 
responsive 
to 
community-identified needs. It shall closely coordinate with LDCs, namely the 
Barangay, City, Municipal, and Provincial Development Councils as stipulated in the 
Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, to ensure that the annual 
plans are harmonized and operationalized for proper and timely implementation; 
and  
 
c.​ Community-Based Organization (CBO) Formation and Strengthening. DSWD will 
ensure at the onset of social preparation, that community based organizations will 
be formed, strengthened, and recognized as beneficiaries to enable them to have 
control over future resources. 
 
Article III.  
Implementing Mechanisms  
 
SEC. 15. Creation of an Inter-agency Advisory Council. An Advisory Council on 
CDD Institutionalization shall be created at the national level to develop policies relative to 
the implementation of this Act. It shall be chaired by the DSWD and co-chaired by DILG.  
 
It shall be composed of representatives from the agency members of Department of 
Budget and Management, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Economic and 
Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of 
Human 
Settlements 
and 
Urban 
Development, 
and 
Department 
of 
Education. 
Representatives shall include the Secretary of the agencies as the officially designated 
permanent member and a designated Undersecretary as an alternate representative. 
Representatives of non-governmental organizations shall constitute not less than 
one-fourth (1/4) of the members of the Advisory Council, which shall be appointed by the 
Council during the first three years of the effectivity of this Act, after which the 
representatives shall be selected from and appointed by the CDD Community of Practice.  
 
The Advisory Council may create committees and invite other agencies as the need 
arises. The Advisory Council shall meet at least quarterly. It shall recommend to the 
President measures and policies for the responsive delivery of commitments under this Act 
and integration with the general poverty reduction strategy of the Government.  
 


The CDD Knowledge and Resource Institute (CDD KRI) shall provide secretariat 
support services for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of policies and 
plans formulated by the Council. 
 
SEC. 16. Creation of a CDD Knowledge and Resource Institute. There shall be 
established a non-stock, non-profit government owned and controlled corporation with its 
own charter, to be attached to DSWD. The CDD KRI is a policy, research and training arm of 
the Advisory Council, which shall provide support for continuing research and technology 
development, 
partnership 
development, 
policy 
advocacy, 
resource 
mobilization, 
capacity-building of communities, CBOs, LGUs, NGAs and other development stakeholders, 
and 
monitoring 
and 
evaluation, 
to 
ensure 
effective 
institutionalization 
and 
operationalization of the CDD framework.  
 
a. Functions and powers of the Institute. The functions of the Institute shall include, 
but is not limited to: 
1.​
Learning and Development interventions on program implementation 
and sustainability;  
a.​ Development of CDD Resource Pool, a group of experts on CDD 
principles and implementation who possess expertise in CDD to 
co-develop the certification and accreditation programs and other 
learning and development requirements of the staff, partners, and 
other stakeholders; 
b.​ Certification of CDD organizations, institutions, and individual 
practitioners who shall either be partners of the program or part of its 
human resources;  and 
c.​ Continuing professional development through partner academic 
institutions;  
2. Resource Mobilization 
a.​ Partnership and Linkages; and 
b.​ Convergence  
3. Knowledge management and technology development  
4. Regular Monitoring and Evaluation; and  
5. Policy Advocacy  
 
To fulfill its purposes, the KRI shall have the following powers:  
1.​ To collect, receive and maintain funds, donations, and other forms of 
assistance and to apply the income and principal thereof to the promotion of 
its aims and purposes hereinbefore set out; 
2.​ To contract any obligation, or enter into any agreement necessary or 
incidental to the proper management of its powers;  
3.​ In general, to carry on any activity and exercise all of the powers conferred by 
the laws upon private or government-owned or controlled corporations; and 
to do any and all of the acts and things herein set forth to the same extent as 
juridical persons could do, and in any part of the world, as principal, factor, 
agent or otherwise, alone or in syndicate or otherwise in conjunction with 


any person, entity, partnership; association or corporation, domestic or 
foreign.  
 
b. Composition of the Board of Directors. The Institute shall be under the direct 
supervision of a Board of Directors composed of the Secretary of DSWD as Chairman 
and at least five (5) other members:  
i. Secretary of the Department of the Interior Local Government;  
ii. Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority;  
iii. Secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; and 
iv. Representatives of the Civil Society Organization and the Academe, to be 
appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary.  
 
The structure and staffing pattern shall be prescribed and approved by the 
Secretary. 
 
c. Socialized Fees. All applications for certifications, training, and other services of 
the CDD KRI shall be charged with corresponding socialized fees to be determined 
by the Advisory Council.  
 
SEC. 17. Implementing Agencies. Using the Whole-of-Government approach, 
various government agencies shall be involved in the implementation of this Act.  
 
a. DSWD as lead agency. Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the DSWD shall serve 
as the lead agency for the implementation of this Act. The DSWD shall integrate in 
their regular operations the following functions: 
i. Provide facilitation support to empower community members to 
participate in the local development process and to strengthen community 
capabilities to engage LGUs, NGAs, and other stakeholders to support 
community-identified priorities:  
ii. Integrate the CDD approach into the local planning and budgeting process, 
for more systematized community participation in the local development 
processes and activities;  
iii. Institutionalize capacity-building and learning on CDD for NGAs, 
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), CSOs, private sector institutions, and 
other partners to enable them to do CDD; and  
iv. Support integration of the role of provincial LGUs in local development 
planning and budgeting and CDD implementation. Specifically, the provision 
of technical assistance and resource augmentation by ensuring integration of 
municipal development plans to provincial development plans  
 
b. DILG as a key partner in strengthening participatory local governance. The DILG 
shall be a key partner agency in the development of policies and technologies for 
LGUs, to strengthen participatory local governance, institute policy and structural 
reforms to ensure horizontal and vertical alignment and linkages of barangay and 
municipal development plans and AIP to community-based plans. It shall also 
initiate the crafting priorities. of PAPs aligned with community-identified needs and  


 
c. NAPC as a key partner in mobilizing the basic sectors. The NAPC shall be a key 
partner agency in the development of policies and measures to ensure meaningful 
representation and active participation of the basic sectors in their local 
development.  
 
d. Support from relevant government agencies. All relevant bureaus, offices, agencies 
and instrumentalities of the government shall render the necessary support to the 
implementation of this Act.  
 
SEC. 18. Community-Management Implementation as Delivery Mechanism. All 
National Government Agencies and Local Government Units shall use mechanisms for 
community-managed implementation of community based projects. The community 
members, with the assistance of LGU and other local partners, shall participate in project 
implementation, monitoring, and management. Community-based organizations shall be 
formed to operate, manage, and maintain community projects. For projects that are 
employing community-managed implementation, guidelines of the Revised Community 
Participation in Procurement Manual as approved by the Government Procurement Policy 
Board (GPPB) shall apply. The community shall be involved as members of the Bids and 
Awards Committee (BAC), BAC Secretariat, Technical Working Group and observers of the 
procurement process.  
 
 
 
SEC. 19. Intergovernmental fiscal transfers. For projects that are employing 
community-managed 
implementation, 
guidelines 
for 
community-based 
financial 
management shall apply which includes but is not limited to community participation in 
the management and control of funds, bookkeeping and reporting, and closing of accounts.  
 
The implementing agency shall enter Into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 
the concerned LGUs with provisions such as, but is not limited to, prompt delivery of local 
counterpart contributions (LCC) and the opening and maintaining of a Trust Account.  
 
The implementation shall be made in accordance with the community based finance 
guidelines and policies which shall ensure that government funds are safeguarded. 
Financial transactions shall be supported by established disbursement processes, reporting 
mechanisms and internal control systems to ensure that management and utilization of 
funds promotes the principles on the use of government public funds. This is relative to the 
Manual on Barangay Financial Management of Barangays prescribed by the Commission on 
Audit relative to the Republic Act 7160.  
 
The key partner agencies and other relevant government agencies shall help the 
DSWD in the strict implementation of the financial management system at the local 
government unit, and impose sanctions for any violation in these guidelines and applicable 
regulations. 
 


Article IV.  
Miscellaneous Provisions 
 
 SEC. 20. Special Intervention for Indigenous Peoples. To address the unique 
needs of the Indigenous Peoples and to reinforce the state policy recognizing their rights 
and protecting their ancestral domains, preserving their cultural integrity and ensuring 
that they are in equal footing from rights and opportunities, the local government units, 
government agencies, and other instrumentalities of the government, in coordination with 
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, shall ensure the following: 
 
a.​ Automatic representation of Indigenous Peoples in decision making within the BDC 
regardless of land tenurial ownership and number of IP population, as long as it is 
identified or recognized that IPs are present in the community; 
 
b.​ Utilization of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan as 
the major reference and consideration in addressing needs and providing 
interventions in IP areas and integration of the ADSDPP in the Local Development 
Plan of the B/LGU;  
 
c.​ Fund allocation for the conduct validation in IP areas and implementation of 
identified needs of IP communities; and 
 
d.​ IP areas as priority in terms of the delivery of basic social services as these 
communities are located in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas 
(GIDA).  
 
SEC. 21. CDD Approach in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management (DRRM). To reduce the disaster risk, prepare communities for disasters, and 
address the needs of communities affected by disasters, the CDD approach shall be adopted 
as a strategy for community-based DRRM.  
 
SEC. 22. Particular consideration for needs of marginalized sectors. CDD 
implementation shall ensure that marginalized sectors including IP members of the 
community, women, children, people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and 
expression (SOGIE), youth, older persons, internally displaced persons, rebel returnees, 
recovering drug dependents, and persons with disability will be represented in 
decision-making activities in the community.  
 
SEC. 23. Incentives. The CDD elements or implementation status shall be included 
as additional criteria for the recognition given to LGUs such as but not limited to Seal of 
Good Local Governance (SGLG) and other awards by NGAs.  
 
Article V.  
Final Provisions 
 


 SEC. 24. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. Upon effectivity of this Act, a 
Congressional Oversight Committee, hereafter referred to as CDD Oversight Committee, is 
hereby constituted. The Committee shall set the overall framework to review the 
implementation of this Act. It shall likewise determine the inherent weaknesses in the law 
and recommend the necessary remedial legislation or executive measures. 
 
The CDD Oversight Committee shall be composed of twelve (12) members, with the 
chairpersons of the Committee on People's Participation of the House of Representatives, 
and Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development of the Senate as 
Co-Chairpersons; and two members from each House from the Committees on Good 
Government and Public Accountability and People's Participation.  
 
The CDD Oversight Committee shall conduct a review of this Act, which shall include 
a systematic evaluation of the impact of this Act, accomplishments of the program, and 
performance of its implementing Agencies, every three (3) years. The committee shall also 
perform such other duties and functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives of this 
Act.  
 
SEC. 25. Regular Monitoring and Reporting. The CDD KRI shall monitor the 
implementation of this Act and submit an annual report of its status to the oversight 
agencies and the joint congressional oversight committee. The said report shall also be 
regularly posted and updated for the public's information. A process assessment shall be 
conducted by DSWD once every three years, the results of which shall be utilized to 
stimulate more program lessons exchange, experience sharing, public dialogues, policy 
discussions and generating inputs for program design works on CDD. Mechanisms for 
promoting third-party monitoring and evaluation of the Act by NGOs and CSOs, together 
with community members and LGUs, shall also be established.  
 
SEC. 26. Grievance Mechanism. A Grievance Redress Mechanism shall be 
established to address complaints and concerns raised by any stakeholder or concerned 
citizen relating to the implementation of this Act. An appointed representative of the DSWD 
shall head the Grievance Committee present at the regional and national level tasked to 
accept, investigate, and facilitate resolution of complaints and grievances.  
 
SEC. 27. Penalty. Upon finding that a department, agency, or instrumentality of 
government, government-owned and -controlled corporation, or local government unit has 
violated any provision of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations, the sanctions 
under administrative law, civil service, or other appropriate laws shall be recommended to 
the Civil Service Commission and/or the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 
The person directly responsible for the violation, as well as the head of the agency or local 
chief executive shall be held liable under this Act. Filing a complaint under this Act shall not 
preclude the offended party from pursuing other remedies available under the law and to 
invoke any of the provisions of existing laws, including the Civil Service Code and the Local 
Government Code.  
 


Any public officer or private person committing any graft and corrupt practices in 
the implementation of this Act, including but not limited to mismanagement of public 
funds, shall be punished based on the penal provisions of existing laws.  
 
SEC. 28. Appropriations. The amount needed for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the appropriations of concerned government agencies in the 
current and subsequent General Appropriations Act. Donations and other forms of 
assistance may also be accepted in accordance with applicable laws and issuances for 
purposes relevant to the implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DSWD shall, in coordination with national government agency 
members of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC), in 
consultation with league of barangays, cities, municipalities, and provinces and relevant 
stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
implementation of the provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 30. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or the application of such 
provision to any instrumentalities or entities or circumstances is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
subsisting.  
 
SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative 
orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 32. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,