Disaster-prone Leyte village gets housing project

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 5 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development through its poverty-alleviation project, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) turned over on Sunday housing units in a remote community in Leyte province.

The project was funded by some PHP10.5 million of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and a counterpart of PHP1.3 million from the provincial and local government units for 270 residents in Balatson village, Burauen, Leyte, a small landslide and flood-prone community.

The project has constructed disaster risk reduction mitigating housing units, the first of its kind in the country.

It was completed within 140 days by locals, following the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach with technical assistance from Kalahi-CIDSS and the local government unit of Burauen.

Implementing a project through CDD approach aims to empower communities through their enhanced participation in community projects that reduce poverty and strengthens community participation in local governance and develops local capacity to design, implement, and manage development activities. 

“This is a dream come true. All our sacrifices and tears are worth it and we are very thankful,” said Balatson village chief Chona Maurillo.

Their experience when super typhoon Yolanda struck had driven them to take action to look for better and safer place to live.

During the turn-over ceremony, Kalahi-CIDSS regional program coordinator Babes Sequito reminded the family beneficiaries to take care of their houses and start building a better community in their new site just like the way they build better houses.

"Above all, this is not just about the construction of your houses or its infrastructure. Kalahi-CIDSS program is also about building better relationships of your community and your family," Sequito explained.

The US-funded MCC covers nine towns in Leyte including Burauen, one of the biggest towns in the province with 77 villages.

Projects funded by the MCC includes water system, construction of health stations, farm-to-market roads, bridges, school buildings, day care centers and drainage system (PNA)
FPV/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR