Four barangays in Looc get nod for aid

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 15): Four barangays in Looc get nod for aid

Four barangay representatives here were able to convince key officials of the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an American foreign aid agency, to prioritize programs for their communities.These barangays are Balatucan, Tuguis, Manhac, and Pili. The barangays proposed for health centers, water system, and the development of the farm-to-market roads.

The MCC grant for the municipality is P5.4 million. The municipal local government unit allocated P810,000 as their local counterpart contribution for the project. Earlier, all 12 barangays of the municipality were represented at the covered court to join the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum-Participatory Resource Allocation (MIBF-PRA), under the Kalahi-CIDSS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  Each barangay prepared a mini-gallery showing their barangay’s sub-project proposal, complete with pictures and other creative stuff. Other barangays’ community members tried to convince the others to vote for their own sub-project proposal by engaging in role-playing as they present their sub-project proposal.

The MIBF is a strategy for community empowerment through localized decision-making. It is a venue for the Barangay Representation Teams (BRTs), who are volunteers of KALAHI-CIDSS, to present their sub-project proposals and choose which among the community projects will be prioritized. The forum participants will choose what they think is the most viable and feasible based on the criteria set by the KALAHI-CIDSS volunteers themselves.

The activity was graced by the key staff of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P). MCC Washington Associate Director from the Department of Compact Operations Michelle Inkley said she was thrilled to know what sub-projects the barangays have proposed. Ernesto Panes, the Acting Mayor, said that he was honored that the guests graced the event. “Malaki ang pasasalamat namin dahil bahagi kami ng Kalahi-CIDSS. Napakalaking tulong ito sa amin dito sa Looc,” he said. (We are truly grateful for being part of Kalahi-CIDSS, this is truly a big help here in Looc).

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1851355553730