Butuan City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga is expected to disburse a total of Php161,968,531.62 in the first two quarters of this year through its anti-poverty program called KALAHI-CIDSS, it was learned Monday, January 16.

The total amount comes from the World Bank loan of the government given to the region amounting to Php137,280,487.93 and an additional Php24,688,043.69 from the local cash contribution (LCC) of the implementing local government units (LGUs).

According to Assistant Regional Director and Regional Project Manager, Mita G. Lim, the regional office will disburse this amount through tranches in the community accounts of the barangays.

Moreover, the total cash grant will be disbursed to a total of 136 sub-projects of the 15 partner LGUs throughout the region. Two (2) LGUs are implementing KALAHI-CIDSS Additional Financing while 13 LGUs are currently implementing the LGU-led Makamasang Tugon.

These areas are Veruela, Esperanza, La Paz, San Luis, and Sibagat in Agusan del Sur; Carmen and Jabonga in Agusan del Norte; Tagbina, Marihatag, Hinatuan, Bayabas, and San Miguel in Surigao del Sur; and Pilar and Socorro in Surigao del Norte.

After achieving a hundred percent fund disbursement last year, the regional project management office (RPMO) is hoping to do the same in the middle of the year. ### (Social Marketing Unit)