Philippines: DSWD’s Plan Includes Dredging

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government of Rosario, Cavite led in a groundbreaking ceremony for an P2.5-million infrastructure project in the municipality using the community-driven development approach (CDD).

The infrastructure project will benefit some 1,000 families and provide jobs for 166 laborers in the municipality. The work involves dredging and delisting of a 560-linear meter creek with the construction of a 1,250- linear meter canal.

“The CDD is a poverty alleviation strategy that puts power back in the hands of the people by giving them the opportunity to have active control in deciding which projects will be implemented in their communities,” the DSWD said in a statement.

This will be implemented through the Japan Social Development Fund-Livelihood Opportunities for Vulnerable Communities (JSDF-LVUC) under the DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS). The JSDF provided the funding in partnership with the World Bank.

“This project is yours,” Director Edgar G. Pato, National Project Manager of Kalahi-CIDSS, who represented Secretary Soliman during the groundbreaking ceremony, said. “You are the ones who identified this project, and you will also be the ones to take care of it.”

The DSWD Kalahi-CIDDS project will also capacitate residents of Barangay Ligtong III in Rosario, Cavite by providing them trainings in buri bag making, dress making, and electrical welding.

Buri bag making training started on December 17, 2012, while the dress making and welding trainings are expected to start on January 7, 2103.

A total of P1,013,925 will be allocated to finance these livelihood training programs, to be conducted by Zonta Club of Cavite and TESDA Cavite.

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Press Release, January 7, 2013; Image: dpwh.gov.ph