TACLOBAN CITY – A housing project was turned over by 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). The P10.5 million project, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) with a counterpart of P1.3 million from the provincial and local government units benefited 65 families of Barangay Balatson, Burauen, Leyte.
Balatson, a small community that is prone to landslide and flooding, is inhabited by 270 people. The construction of the houses was finished within 140 days by community members of Balatson following the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach with technical assistance from Kalahi-CIDSS and the local government unit of Burauen. “This is a dream come true. All our sacrifices and tears are worth it and we are very thankful”, Chona Maurillo, barangay chairwoman, said. Their Yolanda experience had driven them to take action to look for better and safer place for their village, she said. Kalahi-CIDSS regional program coordinator Babes Sequito reminded the beneficiaries to take care of their houses and start building better community in their new site just like the way they built their 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 emphasized. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
