Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian inspected two major projects implemented under the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in the remote barangays of Janiuay, Iloilo, on Wednesday.

Gatchalian said they would like to know their impact on recipient communities as they prepare for the implementation of the Panahon ng Pagkilos-Philippine Community Resilience Project, the flagship program of the DSWD on climate change, in 2026.

The two projects included the Kuyot-Calmay hanging foot bridge in Barangay Kuyot, serving three barangays, and the Carigangan Bridge in Barangay Carigangan, benefitting seven villages, both implemented in 2004.

The Kuyot-Calmay Hanging Bridge has a total project cost of PHP4.22 million, while the Carigangan Bridge costs over PHP1.6 million.

Both projects were identified using the community-driven development approach or community participatory approach, and have been serving the barangays for over two decades.

“Naaprubahan na ng Pangulo yung next na yugto ng pondo for next year. Gusto natin malaman, ano at saan pa tayo makakatulong (The President has already approved the next phase of funds for next year. We would like to know where and when we could help further),” Gatchalian said in an interview.

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wanted development to reach even the remotest barangays.

The local government units of Concepcion, Carles, San Joaquin, and Lemery were among the recipients of the Panahon ng Pagkilos-Philippine Community Resilience Project next year.

He also met with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to determine how to further strengthen the implementation of the initiative.

He added they would like to strengthen the 4Ps, especially since a lot of beneficiaries have already graduated.

Gatchalian also visited the ongoing exhibit of various projects under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to learn of their success stories for replication at the Iloilo provincial capitol grounds.

He said they would like to enhance the SLP because this is one development program that could help uplift people from poverty.

Gatchalian also graced the launching of the CDD Day in the province of Iloilo, one of the first provinces in the country to embrace the approach in implementing various programs and services.

Provincial Ordinance No.2025-336 designated every Wednesday of September each year as CDD Day in the province.

During the launch, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said convergence accounts for half of the approach to achieving the province’s development mantra –Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient Province of Iloilo.

The other half is the Bagong Pilipinas whole-of-nation approach of President Marcos.

“We are doing things here in convergence. We have a whole province approach. But we are also community-driven. We do this together, we want to be community-driven to make it more responsive,” he said.

Defensor assured the readiness of the provincial government to partner with DSWD, including providing a counterpart for the KALAHI. (PNA)