DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has poured a total of P134.5 million to six municipalities and three provinces in Region 11 in line with its Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) and Makamasang Tugon (MT) projects.

Raquel Nuñez, DSWD social worker, said beneficiaries include Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte as pilot area; Talaingod also in Davao del Norte; Tarragona and Manay in Davao Oriental; and Laak and Mabini in Compostela Valley (ComVal) Province.

According to Nuñez, the KALAHI-CIDSS project, which was started in 2003, will end this year.

Nunez said a total of 190 sub-projects were implemented in all KALAHI-CIDSS and MT areas.

Sto. Tomas Mayor Maximo Estella said the local government unit (LGU) supports the projects through its 20-percent development fund for community projects in sharing system with the concerned village.

But Estella said the LGUs will sustain the project through the development fund.

He said the projects of DSWD are big help to the communities because the projects address the basic needs of the local residents.

Some of these projects include rural irrigation systems, daycare centers, health stations, school buildings, bridges, post-harvest facilities, and multipurpose facilities, among others.

For his part, Talaingod Vice Mayor Alex Sibogan said the LGU will ask the target communities on their priority projects before it will be endorsed to DSWD for funding.

“We adapt this system to ensure that the needs of the communities are being addressed,” Sibogan said.