To mitigate the health outbreaks and strengthen climate change adaptation efforts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) has unveiled the centralized quarantine facility or evacuation center with a project cost of PHP 21.51 million in Libon, Albay on Wednesday, May 29.

The construction of centralized quarantine facility or evacuation center with amenities and concrete fence was funded under the National Community-Driven Development Program Additional Financing (NCDDP AF) with a grant amounting to PHP 17.99 million and local counterpart contribution from the LGU amounting to PHP 3.52 million that will benefit the 47 barangays of the municipality.

According to Regional Director Norman S. Laurio, the inauguration and turnover ceremony of a sub-project is a symbol of program’s achievement to its goal which is to strengthen the involvement of community members in local development.

“The project of the program is to empower our communities to contribute in sustainable change and the sub-project is considered as a reward to the communities that made an immense effort in upholding the principles of Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach,” he added.

FRUITS OF CDD

Libon Mayor Wilfredo V. Maronilla highlighted the importance of the operation and maintenance of the sub-project to ensure sustainability.

“There’s nothing we cannot do as long as we are united by one purpose to help and bring the best for the Libongeño people,” he shared.

On the other hand, Joan S. Tabagan, community volunteer who implemented the sub-project, shared that the evacuation center will help many people in times of calamities particularly floods.

Tabagan was encouraged to join as a volunteer to help her community manage the project by handling the project implementation and monitoring and inspection.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa KALAHI-CIDSS dahil natulungan ang aming barangay na magkaraoon ng project at maraming salamat sa napakagandang experience na naranasan ko. Masaya ako at nag-volunteer ako sa KALAHI-CIDSS,” she said.

(I am grateful to KALAHI-CIDSS for helping the barangay to have a project and I also expressed my gratitude for the wonderful experience. I am glad that I volunteered for KALAHI-CIDSS.)

KALAHI-CIDSS is a poverty alleviation program that helps communities in poor municipalities to identify challenges and implement interventions using the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

With reports from Joseph Zaldy C. Santillan II, Administrative Assistant I