DSWD intensifies rehabilitation program for Yolanda survivors

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development, through its poverty alleviation program, is strengthening its rehabilitation programs for communities battered by super typhoon Yolanda.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services—National Community-Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP) seeks to help empower affected communities by addressing their community-rebuilding needs.

The identified priority areas are the municipalities of Medellin, Bantayan, Madridejos, Pilar, San Remigio, Sogod, Tuburan, Tudela, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Poro, San Francisco, Sta. Fe, Tabogon and Tabuelan in Cebu, and Balilihan in Bohol.

The first orientation was done in San Remigio on September 18 while the orientation for the 16 priority areas on KC-NCDDP and disaster response operation procedures in the context of addressing needs for early recovery and rehabilitation in affected barangays is expected to be finished by September.

A memorandum of agreement between the participating municipalities and DSWD was earlier signed during the launching of KC-NCDDP in Central Visayas on September 17.

In northern Cebu alone, more than 93,000 households were affected by typhoon Yolanda.

In San Remigio, 12, 268 or 97 percent of their 12, 779 total number of households were identified as damaged.

An average of 31.5 percent of the social services infrastructures in the town was also affected.

“This is a big blessing to the town. The ball is now in our hands. Let us unite and help each other for the success of the implementation of Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP (Blessing gyud kaayo ni sa lungsod. Ang bola naa na sa atong mga kamot. Magtinabangay ta, maghiusa aron mulampos gyud ang pag-implementar sa Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP),” San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez said in front of barangay captains, NGO representatives, barangay LGU members, national government agencies and other community members.

To signify intent to participate in the project, LGUs and stakeholders signed a commitment of support during the orientation.

Disaster impact concerns and municipal budget allocation were also discussed during the orientation.

The presentation of the town’s Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) started the group discussion of the barangay captains and their constituents on damage assessment per barangay. This served as basis for their respective fund allocations.

All the 27 barangays in San Remigio each have more than a million pesos waiting for their proposed projects.

Personnel from the KC-NCDDP will help the barangays identify the needs in their communities and will guide them in making their project proposals and presentations to the actual construction of the project.

The community volunteers will be taught on budgeting, procurement and project management as they are expected to handle the projects themselves.

A consultative meeting followed after the orientation wherein the barangay representatives identified specific needs in their areas. The lack of farm-to-market roads, absence of libraries and shortage of street lights were among the problems identified.

After the municipal orientation and consultative meetings, the assigned area coordinating teams will go to the barangays and will conduct barangay assemblies to further take the program to the grassroots level.

The Grievance Redress System, which is one of the safety nets of the program, was also introduced. This feature enables members of the community to voice out concerns and report problems in their proposed projects.

Alongside the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), KC-NCDDP is one of the three core poverty alleviation programs of the National Government implemented by DSWD. It is supported by the Philippine Development Plan (2011-2016).

KC-NCDDP is an expansion of the Community Driven Development (CDD) strategy that has been used and proven effective by the Kalahi CIDSS program for over 10 years. — (FREEMAN)