(From left to right) Deputy Regional Program Manager Adelaida P. Escurel of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Regional Program Management Office, Mayor Honesto C. Tabligan II, and Project Development Officer Soliver C. Arenas of National Program Management Office unveil the marker of Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pandan Seashore Park as Temporary Isolation Facility sub-project during the turnover ceremony.

With an aim to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Pandan, Catanduanes transformed the seashore park into a temporary isolation facility through the  Additional Financing project of the Department of Social Welfare and  Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and  Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS).  

The facility with a total project cost of PHP 1,763,057.02 was funded through  DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS and the local government unit of Pandan.  

Six (6) isolation huts were rehabilitated that will serve locally stranded  individuals (LSIs) and confirmed cases from four (4) barangays, namely  Pandan Del Norte (lead barangay), Pandan Del Sur, Napo and Libod.  

To sustain the gains of the sub-project, the community is planning to expand the use of the isolation facility. 

According to Engr. Rodolfo Icaranom, Municipal Planning and Development  Coordinator, the isolation facility will be converted into a tourism facility after the pandemic is over. 

“Ine-expect namin na (We expect that) it will add income and offer additional job opportunities to communities,” Icaranom explained.  

For Ma. Pilipina Castillo, chairperson of Barangay Development Council – Technical Working Group (BDC – TWG), she is grateful that citizens were given the chance to plan, budget, and implement the project in their community.  

Castillo also vows as chairperson of BDC – TWG to continuously serve her fellow citizens as a volunteer.  

“Masaya kahit nakakapagod man ay nakakaramdam ako ng kagalakan sa  paraan na pagtulong,” she noted.  

(Though working as a volunteer is tiring, helping makes me happy.)  

Castillo also added that one of her remarkable learning from the program is  compassionate service to others.  

The BDC – TWG is a group composed of ordinary citizens selected by the  community to supervise and implement the identified intervention of the  barangay funded by the program.  

DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS turned over the sub-project to the community last April 21, 2022. 

Blessing of the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pandan Seashore Park as Temporary Isolation Facility sub-project

ABOUT THE PROGRAM 

The isolation facility is one of the 26 pandemic-related sub-projects of  Pandan, Catanduanes that uses the Disaster Response Operations Modality  (DROM) process of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS. The program shifted its mode of implementation to DROM to hasten the approval of community projects during pandemic.  

Last year, the program expanded its scope to 76 municipalities in Bicol  Region under Additional Financing. 

In Catanduanes, DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS is implementing Additional Financing in nine (9) municipalities with a grant amounting to PHP 68,706,500.00. 

DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Additional Financing allocated Pandan with PHP  14,361,200.00 and local counterpart contribution of PHP 3,590,300.00.  

For more details about DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS, follow this link:  https://kalahi.dswd.gov.ph/about/community-driven-development