Representatives from eight other LGUs in the region visited Tacurong-LGU on February 9, 2016 for a Cross-Learning Visit on Community-Based Monitoring System – Accelerated Poverty Profiling or CBMS APP. A tablet-based household survey of different barangays, CBMS enumerators gather data to be used on disaster risk reduction and management. Tacurong City was the first LGU in the region to implement CBMS-APP.
The visiting LGUs were from the provincial office of Sarangani and municipalities of Glan, Malapatan, Kiamba, Maasim, Alabel, Maitum, and Malungon. The municipal delegates represent their respective Municipal Local Government Office and Municipal Planning and Development Office, which are the main proponents of the CBMS technical working groups.
During the visit, the delegates made a courtesy call to City Mayor Lina O. Montilla where they were welcomed and briefed on Tacurong’s experience in conducting their own CMBS survey last November 2014 to March 2015. The cross-learning was conducted at the CDRRMC building where overviews of the Tacurong City CBMS Implementation was given by Mr. Alberto Sero, CLGOO and CBMS Over-all Coordinator; and Tacurong City CMBS Experience, which was given by Elmer B. Felongco, CBMS Project Coordinator.
The presentations highlighted Tacurong’s own CBMS cross-learning experience in Tanaoan City in Luzon, the processes involved to get the project up and running, and the results attained during the duration of the project.
Tacurong-LGU made sure to advice the visitors on the possible pitfalls of the project, important improvements they can implement in their own CBMS monitoring, and other important tips that can help address idiosyncrasies in LGUs as regards the CBMS project.
The same cross-learning visit has been conducted by Arakan-LGU and Kidapawan-LGU in November 2015. (Yen Robles, Tacurong-LGU)