Arnel Garcia, DSWD-Bicol regional director (PNA file photo)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol will implement PHP142-million worth of Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) programs to respond to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
Ranelle Sertan, information officer of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan -Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program, on Thursday said the program targets to implement DROP in 15 municipalities in the region.
“The DROP programs are the 4th cycle programs to be implemented under the Kalahi-CIDDS. It is just shifted from infrastructure projects to health-related programs that will help combat Covid-19 in their respective communities,” she said in an interview.
Sertan said the programs will be implemented in Catanduanes, 5; Sorsogon, 4; Masbate, 2; Camarines Norte, 2; and Camarines Sur, 2.
She said the DSWSD finished the 4th cycle programs in Albay.
Arnel Garcia, DSWD-Bicol regional director, in a separate interview, said DROP will be a resource to help the municipal local government unit (MLGU) and barangay local government unit (BLGU) in providing assistance during the management of Covid-19.
He said DROP is a modified community empowerment activity cycle (CEAC) wherein each stage is simplified and fast-tracked to hasten the process of approval of sub-projects and its implementation while still following the basic principles of Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.
“It will also provide basic services to the barangay in coordination with the BLGU through the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) and Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) and will ensure that the available resources provided will be maximized and will respond to the identified needs of the community,” Garcia added.
He said the projects that will be identified by the communities will be in accordance with the program and the Department of Health (DOH) standards and protocols.
“The program opted to shift the mode of implementation from LGU-led to DROP which is Kalahi-CIDSS’ temporary procedure for program implementation in the context of emergency or disaster situations,” Garcia said.
The Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty alleviation program that uses the CDD approach in helping communities in poor municipalities to identify challenges, make informed decisions and give control of resources to address local poverty. (PNA)
