The ‘Panahon ng Pagkilos’ (Time to Act) initiative, a successor to the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CDSS) program, is set to roll out in 2025 across thirteen local government units in Western Visayas. This program, which will be supported by the World Bank, aims to enhance community resilience against climate change and natural disasters.
Director Arwin Razo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas emphasized that the initiative will focus on strengthening the ability of communities to withstand environmental challenges. The selection of the thirteen LGUs was based on criteria including high poverty rates, exposure to environmental risks, child stunting, and the presence of indigenous populations.
The KALAHI-CDSS program, which will conclude by the end of 2024, has already invested over PHP10.43 billion in Western Visayas since 2003, completing 9,313 sub-projects. These efforts have involved 61,154 community volunteers and have reached 3.7 million households.
Initial steps for ‘Panahon ng Pagkilos’ include engaging with the Regional Development Council to gain endorsement for the proposal, which will then be forwarded to the National Economic and Development Authority through the Investment Coordination Committee. The World Bank is expected to approve the proposal by the end of the year, paving the way for the program’s implementation in 2025.