ILOILO City – The town of Pavia in Iloilo province received a total of P55.6 million worth of various projects from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS).
Benefitting more than 57,000 households, a total of 33 community projects have been poured to the town, including the construction of a multipurpose building/evacuation center, daycare center, disaster response projects, electrification project, drainage canal, road, isolation facility, sanitary toilet, and school building.
Mayor Luigi Gorriceta expressed his appreciation to the agency for the big-impact projects.
He cited, for instance, the isolation facility which was a very big help especially during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, especially for those who were quarantined. Compared to their previous isolation facility, the patients were way comfortable with the KALAHI-CIDSS-funded facility.
It was in 2020 when different barangays in town agreed and endorsed the establishment of an isolation facility. However, struck with fear of being contaminated with the virus, most of the barangays were reluctant to become the site of the isolation facility.
But Barangay Amparo mustered courage and became the site of the isolation facility housing locally stranded individuals, close contacts, returning overseas Filipino workers, and those infected by the highly contagious coronavirus during the pandemic.
Records from the Pavia Municipal Health Office showed the isolation facility catered to more than 509 individuals from April 16, 2021 to July 15, 2021.
The local government unit had provided personnel, food and other needs to ease the burden of the individuals who were quarantined at the isolation facility. The facility was air-conditioned and was provided an internet connection.
“I hope nga madamo pa gid nga mga projects halin sa KALAHI-CIDSS sa aton municipality and rest assured ang aton local government counterpart will still be there para matigayon naton ang mga project nga may daku gid nga impact sa aton community,” Gorriceta told reporters who joined the media tour recently.
KALAHI-CIDSS started its implementation of projects in Pavia in 2014.
The program’s engagement was part of the government’s response to municipalities badly hit by Super Typhoon “Yolanda”.
The local government through 2nd District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta and Mayor Gorriceta has supported the DSWD by providing cash contributions and additional staff to implement the subprojects in the different barangays.
With the community’s harrowing experience during Typhoon “Yolanda”, Barangay Cabugao Sur opted for the construction of the evacuation center.
Built in 2015, the evacuation center has served the needs of the families affected by different typhoons such as “Paeng” and “Odette”.
With the collaborative effort of the barangay and local government unit, the structural integrity of the project is maintained up to this time. The community has the responsibility to take care of and maintain the projects after it was turned over by KALAHI-CIDSS to them
In 2022, the local government unit coveted a national award in Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SArling Galing and Kaligtasan (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing and Kaligtasan) Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian, with Barangay Cabugao Sur as the town’s entry.
On the other hand, 29 Pavia families were recipients of the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program.
A total of P2.5 million was released to the beneficiaries. Of the total grants, P1.1 million were released as Transitory Family Support Package and P1.4 million as Livelihood Settlement Grant. (With reports from KALAHI-CIDDS)/PN
