P300M still not with Yolanda-hit, poor areas in Region 7

CEBU, Philippines - About P300 million from last year’s budget for developmental projects of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is yet to be distributed to poor-stricken communities and those hit by typhoon Yolanda in Central Visayas.

The implementations of 600 identified sub-projects rely on the distribution of the budget.

Daisy Lor, DSWD-7 Program Coordinator of Kalahi-CIDDS, admitted there were some documentary problems encountered in “downloading” the budget. She assured that the amount will be distributed to the beneficiaries before the year ends.

Lor explained that they cannot release the funding if the beneficiary cannot provide documents needed for the request for fund release (RFR).

“Dili ma-download basta wala pay complete documents. Mao gyod nay makalangay sa distribution ang kuwang nga document ug uban pang attachments,” she said.

The beneficiary needs to submit an approved project plan and its budget summary, community consultation, and orientation reports, among others.

Poor communities organize themselves, analyze their development needs and priorities, and prepare project proposals to address their common problems. Community members are also responsible for implementing and managing these projects.

Lor said P1.2 billion has been released for 1461 identified projects.

There are 96 towns in the region identified as beneficiaries –  41 in Bohol, 38 in Cebu, 12 in Negros Oriental, and three in Siquijor.

Most of the sub-projects are barangay road access, multi-purpose building or refuge center, pathways, street lights and schools or daycare centers.

The beneficiary of a community-led government project called Kalahi-CIDSS is given one year and four months, including six-month social preparation, to implement the projects approved.

The national government has allotted about P1.5 billion for the region for the implementation of 1,557 sub-projects through the community-driven development (CDD), popularized by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

Kalahi-CIDSS is using the CDD approach to address poverty in the country. The approach includes the empowerment of ordinary citizens to actively and directly participate in local governance by identifying their own community needs, planning, implementing, and monitoring projects to address local poverty issues collectively.  (FREEMAN)