THE country will receive $200 million for its poverty reduction program, an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (Kalahi-CIDSS) is set to implement projects worth $200 million next year, as DSWD has formed partnership with the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the second phase of the program.
Kalahi-CIDSS deputy national project Manager Edgar Pato said the World Bank and the MCC, each committed to grant the country $100 million.
MCC's grants will be distributed to Luzon and Visayas while the World Bank's grant will be given to Mindanao.
"The $200 million worth of grant will span for five years and this will affect both old and new beneficiary communities," Pato added.
Pato was in Davao City because Kalahi-CIDSS organized a training for officials from Governor Generoso and New Corella municipalities, which will be receiving additional funding from Kalahi-Cidss.
Pato was joined by Governor Generoso municipal Mayor Vicente Orencia and New Corella municipal area Coordinator Marlym Gentino.
Kalahi-CIDSS is the government's flagship poverty-alleviation project implemented by the DSWD through the financial support of the World Bank.
It is a community-driven development project where decision-making resides in the community.
Orencia and Gentino were one in saying that the program has been a big help in their municipalities.
Kalahi-CIDSS aims to empower communities through their enhanced participation in local governance and poverty alleviation projects in the community. It is one of the largest poverty alleviation portfolios of the World Bank in the Philippines. It started in 2003 and has been running for six and a half years.
It covered twelve regions and 42 provinces.
Project types are as follows: potable water system, road rehabilitation, rural irrigation system, rural electrification, day care center, health station, school building, multi-purpose building, multi-purpose training center; shed, resource development for children facility, community library, tribal housing, shelter upgrading, bridges, flood control, post harvest service facility, capability building, and slope protection. (Jade C. Zaldivar)