20 Bicol LGUs to get P359-M DSWD grant

By Connie Calipay

Some 20 local government units in the Bicol region will receive a total of P359 million grant under the cash-for-work project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.

Ranelle Anne Sertan, Kalahi-CIDSS spokesperson, said the beneficiaries are: Capalonga; Labo; and Mercedes towns in Camarines Norte; Del Gallego; Lupi; Ragay; Siruma; Balatan; Tinambac; Lagonoy; and Libmanan towns in Camarines Sur; Panganiban in Catanduanes; Aroroy, Baleno, Esperanza, Placer, Milagros, and Balud towns in Masbate; and Matnog and Magallanes in Sorsogon.

“We are already coordinating with the different qualified LGUs for documents needed,” Sertan said.

Asked about the allocations of the fund, she said: “There is a proper computation on the allocation and it will also depend on the sub-project proposal that they will submit.”

Sertan said the proposal by the qualified barangays to the LGUs will be approved by the regional program management office.

“The program aims to provide temporary employment to no-income or low-income families, homeless or street families, returning overseas Filipino workers, Indigenous peoples, pregnant women, elder persons, person(s) with disabilities, families in conflict-affected communities, and indigent individuals or families in difficult circumstances,” she said.

In a statement, Adelaida Escurel, KALAHI-CIDSS deputy regional program manager, said the LGUs were identified by ranking the municipalities with at least 21 percent poverty index as listed in the 2015 municipal poverty estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Each municipality will be receiving community grants ranging from P6 million to P20 million. The grant allocation was computed according to the number of barangays, 2015 municipal poverty incidence, municipal class, and 2015 population census.

“Under the modality, communities may propose sub-projects under the CFW mechanism like cleaning, disinfection, and sanitizing of common public facilities,” she said.

Also considered are assistance in contract tracing, repair or upgrading of isolation facilities, repair or upgrading of health stations, and other activities related to coronavirus disease response and management.

Escurel said the program started this July and will last until the end of this year.

Cash-for-Work is a scheme that provides cash aid to sectors that are affected by disasters and the pandemic in exchange for their community work. (PNA)