OPAPP to tap DSWD in bringing programs to conflict areas in W.Visayas

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 17): OPAPP to tap DSWD in bringing programs to conflict areas in W.Visayas

The national government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), will tap the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6) in implementing projects in conflict areas in the region, which have presence of Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB). The RPA-ABB is a break- away group of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed-wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Leo Quintilla, deputy regional project manager of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), said through the DSWD, particularly the KALAHI-CIDSS, the OPAPP would provide budget for the projects identified by the community as urgent. “Once the program is already there at the community, it is easy to integrate these RPA-ABB members to the community,” he said.

Most common projects are construction of day care centers, school buildings, health stations, road improvements, water systems, solar dryers and livelihood assistance. Quintilla said the same program has started in Mindanao two years ago and so far, the feedback and response of those community belong to conflict areas were all positive.

In Region 6, KALAHI-CIDSS program has already engaged 36 local government units and more than 800 barangays in rural areas, empowered more than 16, 000 community volunteers, and provided more than P1.3 million worth of assistance to more than 1, 500 community sub-projects.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=480588