BUENAVISTA, Bohol, Philippines — Implementation of a six-poverty-alleviation convergence program has eased the rate of poverty in Buenavista town from 70 percent in past years to a current 50 percent, according to town Mayor Ronald Lowell Tirol during a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Convergence Caravan with guests and local media getting first hand information about the poverty-reduction program from beneficiaries.

The said programs implemented in this town are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s), Self Employment Assistance - Kaunlaran (SEA-K), Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive And Integrated Delivery Of Social Services Project (KALAHI-CIDSS), Social Pension, Rice Subsidy and Supplementary Feeding.

DSWD7 statistics showed that some 2,000 households from all barangays in Siaton have benefited from said six programs.

Some 2,246 beneficiaries are covered by the 4Ps.

Meanwhile, DSWD-7 has reported the disbursing of nearly P40 million for the KALAHI-CIDSS program.

This particular program has helped in the construction of farm-to-market roads, water system, day care centers, schools and health stations and schools.

SEA-K on the other hand benefited five barangays with a total 155 households. Project cost was pegged at P699, 238.

Moreover, over P200,000 was released for the monthly stipend of 79 indigent older persons while over P5 million was spent for rice subsidy and supplementary feeding.