DSWD earmarks P3.5 billion for poverty alleviation in CV

CEBU, Philippines - A national community-driven program to alleviate poverty and to empower community members will soon be launched by the Department ofSocial Welfare and Development which will benefit at least 108 municipalities in Central Visayas.

The government has allocated P3.5 billion for the program. Each local government unit identified as beneficiary will receive at least P2 million and a maximum ofP20 million.

The program is the scaled up operations ofthe Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or the Kalahi-CIDSS which has been one of the national government’s flagship programs for poverty reduction.

DSWD-7 social marketing officer Simeon A. Remata, III said that one of the main goals of the program is to change the paradigm of the local government units.

“Kay sa una, top to bottom ra kaayo nga only the local chief executives would decide the community’s project. With community driven development, communities na mismo ang mo-determine kun unsa gyud ang ilang kinahanglan nga project,” he said.

He added that the NCDDP will be implemented in 2014 to 2019 covering 108 municipalities in the region. Remata said for this year, DSWD will prioritize 72 areas that were identified as disaster affected areas, and the remaining 36 areas would be implemented next year.

Among the 72 areas, 28 municipalities are in Cebu, 29 in Bohol, 14 in Negros Oriental, and one in Siquijor. He clarified that one municipality is yet to be classified and added to the list.

The municipalities of Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova, Sibonga, Alcoy, Ginatilan, Santander, Dumanjug, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, and Tudela are the identified beneficiaries in Cebu.

“We train them how to analyze their situation through problem case analysis, development tools, among others. They can effectively organize themselves and come out with effective solutions addressing the community’s problems,” Remata said.

DSWD-7 information officer Leah Quintana said eligible communities should implement projects that can be sustained and must be beneficial to the community members.

“Dili pwede ang mga projects pareha anang mamotol og kahoy, or ang funds gamiton pagsweldo para sa mga empleyado, dili pwede gamiton sa fiesta,” she said.

Quintana said that the amount allocated for the project will not be released to the LGUs.

“Dili gyud ni siya mosulod sa panudlanan sa local government units, from Land Bank national to Land Bank nga community account. So, ang grupo sa community volunteers, mag-open na sila og account sa bank, ang signatory ana ang barangay treasurer, ang head sa volunteers ug ang worker sa DSWD,” she added. — (FREEMAN)