Gatchalian inaugurates 8 KALAHI-CIDSS projects
By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian committed expanded assistance to the province of Nueva Vizcaya, announcing additional funds for crisis support, livelihood programs and prepositioned relief during a meeting with provincial and municipal officials held at the lobby of the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center, on August 28.
“ The farther you are, the smaller the province is, the more that you need the national government,” Gatchalian said, adding he understands the needs of remote provinces and upland towns, having served as a local chief executive for nine years.
Gatchalian said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will release additional funding for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The funds, he said, will be downloaded directly to the provincial government for allocation to Nueva Vizcaya’s municipalities under Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito’s oversight.
He added that DSWD will also extend support to the province’s congressional district through Rep. Atty.Timothy Joseph E. Cayton.
The secretary said the agency will earmark more resources for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in the province. He urged the provincial government to provide a warehouse that DSWD would stock with relief goods for rapid deployment during disasters.
Gatchalian thanked the provincial government for providing a provincial office for DSWD Nueva Vizcaya, and he lauded the turnout of local leaders at the meeting. “Very rare that the three main characters in public service are all together,” he said, referring to the presence of the congressman, governor and vice governor. Majority of the board members and mayors were also in attendance.
Gov. Gambito and Cong. Cayton both expressed gratitude to the DSWD for its continuing assistance to the province. The support, according to them is a huge help to Nueva Vizcaya residents especially those in remote upland and disaster-prone areas and the additional AICS and SLP funds, along with prepositioned relief goods, will help families meet urgent needs, sustain livelihoods and recover more quickly after calamities.
Earlier in the day, Gatchalian led the inauguration of eight projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in Barangay Tiblac, Ambaguio. KALAHI-CIDSS is a national poverty-alleviation program that uses a community-driven development approach, empowering communities to identify, manage and implement projects that address their most pressing needs.
The secretary also met with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and with municipal links implementing the program at the local level. In Bambang town, he oversaw an SLP payout to 156 beneficiaries amounting to P3 million.
AICS provides financial support to individuals and families facing crises such as illness, death in the family or emergencies, while SLP funds microenterprise and employment interventions for poor households.
