Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

4012

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT AS A
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION AND GRASSROOTS
EMPOWERMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Community-Driven Development (CDD) is a globally recognized approach to reducing
poverty and promoting inclusive growth by empowering communities to take control of their
own development priorities. In the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) has successfully piloted this approach through the Kapit-Bisig Laban
sa Kahirapan ~ Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS)
program, which has been supported by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Independent evaluations of KALAHI-CIDSS have consistently shown that
communities are capable of identifying their most urgent needs, implementing projects
efficiently, and ensuring transparency and accountability when given resources directly.
Projects implemented under CDD have included water systems, school buildings, health
centers, footbridges, roads, and other small-scale infrastructure that directly respond to the
priorities of the poor. Communities that adopted the CDD approach have demonstrated
improved social cohesion, increased participation in local governance, and reduced leakages
in the use of public funds.

Despite its successes, CDD in the Philippines remains programmatic and dependent on
external financing. It is not yet institutionalized as a permanent national strategy. This leaves
community participation vulnerable to budgetary fluctuations, changes in leadership, and
donor funding cycles.

This bill seeks to address that gap by institutionalizing Community-Driven
Development as a national strategy. It establishes the National Program on Community-Driven


Development (NP-CDD), led by the DSWD in partnership with other national agencies and
local government units,

‘The measure provides for:

1. Annual Block Grants of not less than P1,000,000.00 per barangay, allocated based on
poverty incidence, population, and vulnerability;

2. Barangay Development Assemblies, convened at least once per year, to ensure broad-
based participation in identifying local priorities;
3. Capacity-building programs for barangay officials, volunteers, and community
organizations;
4, Transparency and accountability safeguards, including public posting of budgets
and participatory monitoring; and
5. Integration into local planning systems, ensuring that barangay priorities influence
municipal and provincial development plans.
By institutionalizing CDD, this bill aims to make people’s participation in governance
permanent, not programmatic; community empowerment a right, not a privilege; and
grassroots development a policy, not just a project.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

4012

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT AS A
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION AND GRASSROOTS
EMPOWERMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER,
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Community-Driven
Development Act of 2025.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
(a) Promote inclusive growth by empowering communities to participate actively in
identifying, planning, implementing, and monitoring development projects in their

localities;

(b) Institutionalize participatory governance at the barangay level as a core mechanism
for poverty reduction and social protection;

(b) Strengthen transparency, accountability, and local ownership of development
outcomes through direct community participation in decision-making; and

(@) Harmonize national, local, and community-based development initiatives to
maximize efficiency and reduce duplication.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) Community-Driven Development (CDD) refers to an approach to local development
where communities are given direct control over planning decisions and investment resources

to address their most pressing needs;

(6) Community Empowerment Facilitator (CEF) refers to a trained development
worker assigned to support barangays in implementing CDD projects; and


(c) Barangay Development Assembly (BDA) refers to the general assembly of residents
in a barangay convened to identify priorities, prepare proposals, and approve community
projects.

SEC. 4. National Program on Community-Driven Development. There is hereby
established a National Program on Community-Driven Development (NP-CDD) to be
implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the lead
agency, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and other concerned agencies.

SEC. 5. Program Components, The NP-CDD shall include the following components:

(a) Block Grants for Communities — Direct transfers to barangays for priority projects
identified through Barangay Development Assemblies;

() Capacity-Building — Training for barangay officials, community volunteers, and
local development councils on project planning, implementation, financial management, and
monitoring;

(©) Social Accountability Mechanisms ~ Transparent processes including public posting
of budgets and participatory monitoring by community members;

(@) Linkage to Local and National Programs ~ Ensuring community priorities are
integrated into municipal and provincial development plans; and

(©) Technical Assistance ~ Deployment of Community Empowerment Facilitators and
technical experts to guide project design and implementation.

SEC. 6. Institutionalization in Local Development Planning. All barangays shall
institutionalize the conduct of Barangay Development Assemblies at least once every year. The
outcomes of these assemblies shall be integrated into the barangay development plan and
endorsed to the municipal and provincial development councils.

SEC. 7. Funding. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

(a) For every barangay, an annual CDD block grant shall be allocated based on
population, poverty incidence, and geographic vulnerability, but not less than P1,000,000.00
per barangay per year; and

(b) Local government units are encouraged to provide counterpart funds, either in cash
or in kind.

SEC. 8. Program Management. The DSWD shall:

(a) Develop national guidelines for project eligibility, fund release, and financial
accountability;

(b) Ensure equitable distribution of funds across regions;


(c) Establish a monitoring and evaluation system with annual reporting to Congress;
and

(@) Coordinate with the Commission on Audit (COA) for simplified but robust auditing
of community projects.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. The initial amount to implement this Act shall be charged
against the current appropriations of the DSWD. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
for the continued implementation shall be included in the annual GAA.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the DILG, NEDA, the League of
Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities, and civil society organizations, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,