BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Caraga Region (DSWD-13) has released some PHP86.8 million through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response in the area.
Ester V. Villamor, the deputy program manager of Kalahi-CIDSS in Caraga, said the program has been serving as a disaster response mechanism for struggling communities.
“Kalahi-CIDSS, in accordance to Proclamation No. 929, has activated the Disaster Response Operation Procedure (DROP) in the areas covered by the program, particularly in areas where the National Community Driven Development Projects (NCDD) are implemented,” Villamor said in a media forum on Wednesday.
In Caraga Region, DROP was activated in 202 communities in 10 towns and three provinces, she said, following the pandemic declaration in March.
Villamor said the region has a total allocation of PHP96.5 million for Kalahi-CIDSS projects this year.
“Completion of disaster response projects amounting to PHP9.6 million is still ongoing, and we are hopeful this will be completed this month of November,” Villamor said.
DSWD-13 information officer Marko Davey Reyes said that as a disaster response mechanism, Kalahi-CIDSS projects are mainly focused on protecting the residents in the program areas from the threats of Covid-19.
“Identification of disaster response projects depend on the residents of communities that are based on their needs,” Reyes said, adding most of the projects for this year include refurbishing of buildings converted as quarantine facilities and the procurement of personal protective equipment. (PNA)
