BUTUAN CITY – The poverty alleviation program of the government being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated a total of P235,814,022.95 in line with its Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery Social Services (KALAHI-CIDDS) in the Caraga Region, it was learned Wednesday.

DSWD officials said these KALAHI-CIDDS projects were already implemented in the 16 municipalities in the region.

At least 57,044 individuals have already benefited from the said program, it was also learned.

KALAHI-CIDDS focal person Elsa Montemor identified these municipalities as Carmen, Jabonga and Las Nieves, all of Agusan del Norte; Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto and San Luis, all of Agusan del Sur; Libjo of Dinagat Islands Province; Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro and Socorro, all of Surigao del Norte; and Bayabas, Marihatag, San Miguel and Tagbina, all of Surigao del Sur.

At least P82,683,385.52 was the counterpart funding of the local government units (LGUs) for the implementation of the KALAHI-CIDDS project, Montemor said.

Some of these projects include rural irrigation systems, day-care centers, health stations, school buildings, bridges, post–harvest facilities, multipurpose facilities, among others.

In a related development, separate ongoing government projects under the KALAHI-CIDDS Makamasang Tugon (MT) amounting to P15,305,617.34 with P6,255,043.57 counterpart funding from LGUs are also set to be completed by the end of this year, Montemor said.

These KALAHI-CIDDS-MT projects are currently implemented in the municipalities of Jabonga and Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte.

She said that Northeastern Mindanao DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat already directed all KALAHI-CIDDS-MT coordinators and focal persons to thoroughly check and evaluate all projects that will end in 2009.

KALAHI-CIDDS, a poverty alleviation program of the government started in 2003.

The local chief executives in the various provinces in the region expressed heartfelt gratitude to the national government for the KALAHI-CIDDS program.

“The projects of DSWD are big help to the communities because they address the basic needs of the residents, and we only hope that this will continue,” said Agusan del Sur Gov. Ma. Valentina Plaza.