TACLOBAN CITY- A total of 102 disaster risk reduction management projects in Eastern Visayas are currently being funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s anti-poverty progam, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).
Part of Kalahi-CIDSS’ expansion through the National Community-Driven Development Program or NCDDP is the innovation to respond to the “new normal.”
This was achieved through the inclusion of evacuation centers and barangay disaster risk reduction management centers in the program’s project menu.
Through the Kalahi-CIDSS process, which uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, community members are given the opportunity to achieve improved access to services and to participate in a more inclusive local planning, budgeting, construction, and implementation of their identified project which can resolve their most pressing issue or problem in the community.
Out of 102 DRRM projects, 50 of these are evacuation buildings. Some 52 are barangay DRRM centers across the region are undergoing construction.
In Northern Samar, 24 projects are for implementation, 11 in Southern Leyte, 4 in Biliran province while 63 are within the Yolanda-hit municipalities in Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar.
“Part of the agency’s mandate is to tailor our programs and services, including Kalahi-CIDSS, to become more responsive to DRRM and even environmental protection and conservation. DRRM and environmental safeguards are also part of Kalahi-CIDSS capability-building trainings for its volunteers, civil society organizations, and barangay and municipal LGU partners”, Regional Director Restituto Macuto emphasized. (PR)
