BONTOC, Mountain Province – A total of PhP2.4 million under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan-Indigenous Peoples-Community Development Driven (KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA-IP-CDD) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to benefit some barangays in this capital town.
With this, a project orientation was held on February 15, 2024, at the Mayor’s Conference Hall of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol attended by the personnel from the DSWD, officials and personnel from the municipal government, and KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA-IP-CDD partners including barangays Maligcong, Samoki, Tocucan, and Bontoc Ili.
The barangays covered under the funding assistance were identified by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPPRU).
The four barangays are also the recipients of the KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA-IP-CDD- Sub-projects Cycle 1 of which they received funding in the amount of PhP1.2 million each for the implementation of their proposed infrastructure projects.
Relative to this, Regional Program Coordinator Gian Carlo De Guzman lauded the respective barangays and the municipal government for the successful and timely completion of the projects which included the improvement of pathway at Sitio Favarey in Barangay Maligcong; the improvement of footpath at Sitio Upper Chenglis and Libchan in Barangay Tocucan; the construction of drainage cum pathway along Sitio Pokisan and Sitio Chakalan in Barangay Bontoc Ili; and improvement of water pipelines along Sitio Saligking to Pammasao in Barangay Samoki.
As part of the orientation, Area Coordinating Team Municipal Financial Program Analyst Joan Batnag, Engr. Luis Pitan, and Deputy Regional Program Manager Manuel Ocaña Jr., presented the overview of the KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA-IP-CDD Program, the timeline implementation, and the processes for the second cycle.
Batnag in an interview clarified that the PhP2.4 million-worth of project for the KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA-IP-CDD-Sub-projects Cycle 2, will not be equally divided among barangays Maligcong, Samoki, Tocucan, and Bontoc Ili. It will be dependent on the cost of their respective project proposals and completion of required documents.
Municipal Administrator Eric Fulangen, Sr., who represented Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr. extended his gratitude to DWSD and other partner agencies for their continuous assistance to the municipality.
He acknowledged the positive impact of the projects on the lives of the constituents, adding that the program promotes community empowerment as the recipients actively participate in the identification, implementation, and management of their development projects.
Meanwhile, on the part of the municipal government, the Municipal Coordinating Team shall coordinate technical assistance, monitoring, and resolution of issues in the implementation of the project in the covered communities. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay & Aprilyn P. Tudlong
