By: Rahil Banisil Udasan
The Australian Government donated an additional budget amounting AU$12.2 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of early childhood care facilities in the country.
The Australian Government donated an additional budget amounting AU$12.2 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of early childhood care facilities in the country.
The budget will
cover a total of 468 classrooms and day care centers that will be constructed
by the office of DSWD through the
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services-National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP). More
or less, 117 of these classrooms and day care centers will be constructed in ‘Yolanda’
affected areas.
CDD motivates on
empowering and building up the capacities of citizens and local government because
they believe the town residents can be able to lift their own communities out
of poverty, giving them the chance to make knowledgeable decisions on locally recognized
options for development and be able to manage resources to implement sub-projects
that address their needs.
On Wednesday, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman and
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Deputy Secretary Ewen
McDonald visited this town and led the
launching and groundbreaking ceremonies for projects financed by the grant. She
also urged the residents to do
“balikatan” or work tog help each other in building the educational facilities
so that the classroom will be accessible so soon an the children will no longer
stay in tents.
Dep. Sec. McDonald said, “We are committed to our
strong partnership with DSWD because Australia recognizes the potential of CDD
to effectively lessen poverty.” Sec. Soliman stated that apart from the AU$12.2
million additional grant, the Australian Government has funded the construction
of 626 day care centers and classrooms which worth of US$10. This fund was covered by the country’s conditional cash transfer
program the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
News source: gov.ph
Photo credit: gov.ph
Photo credit: gov.ph
