More towns to be included in poverty alleviation target

CEBU, Philippines - At the end of the third quarter this year, more municipalities in Central Visayas will be covered in government’s poverty alleviation target.

This would make Region-7 one of the four regions in the country with the most number of target municipalities under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan— Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services — Community Driven Development Program.

From the current 10 municipalities in Negros Oriental it would now be 72 new areas spread across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Six out of 10 Kalahi CIDSS-MCC areas are included in the present KC-NCDDP municipalities. The training for the Area Coordinating Teams in all the four provinces started on September 9 and was completed on October 10. The trainings were simultaneously conducted in Cebu and Bohol.

The areas are classified under three categories: 377 poor and Yolanda-affected municipalities, 177 non-poor but Yolanda-affected municipalities, and 293 poor but non-Yolanda-affected municipalities.

The Yolanda-affected areas under the 377 and 177 municipalities are prioritized this year.

The areas under the 177 category are the municipalities of Balamban, Consolacion, Liloan, Naga, Medellin, Carmen, Compostela and Cordova in Cebu province; Tubigon, Ubay, Carmen, Loon, Calape, Jagna, Trinidad, and Maribojoc in Bohol province; and Valencia, Sibulan, Basay, Dauin, and Amlan in Negros Oriental province.

Meanwhile, the areas under the 377 category are the municipalities of Asturias, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Dumanjug, San Francisco, San Remigio, Sibonga, Tabogon, Tuburan, Alcoy, Borbon, Catmon, Ginatilan, Madridejos, Pilar, Poro, Santa Fe, Santander, Sogo, Tabuelan, and Tudela in Cebu province; Guindulman, Alicia, Anda, Antequera, Bilar, Buenavista, Candijay, Catigbian, Clarin, Inabanga, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Mabini, Pilar, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Balilihan, and Valencia in Bohol province; Jimalalud, San Jose, Ayungon, Bindoy, La Libertad, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Tayasan, and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental province; and Lazi in Siquijor province.

After training, the ACTs were immediately deployed to their assigned municipa-lities. They then started with municipal orientations, consultative meetings and barangay assemblies.  (FREEMAN)