The World Bank representatives from East Asia and Pacific for Sustainable Development conducted its Philippines Sustainable Development Management Mission today in Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte, May 10, 2024.
The team, headed by the Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific, Anna Wellenstein, visited some W.A.S.H facilities, schools, and other Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) community subprojects and held dialogues and consultations with the locals and officials of Siargao Islands, particularly from the Local Government Units (LGU) of Pilar, Sta.Monica, and Del Carmen.
The main purpose of the mission is to engage with community volunteers and local leaders and understand the needs of communities in order to help improve the sustainability of facilities and sub-projects completed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Community-Driven Development (CDD) program, to ensure the reduction of poverty and improve people’s resilience amidst climate change.
The activity is also part of the preparation of the Philippine Government through the DSWD, in partnership with the World Bank, as it finalizes a new program called, “Panahon ng Pagkilos” that is expected to employ KALAHI-CIDSS model in order to strengthen the climate change resiliency of various communities in the country.
Other World Bank representatives present in the meeting were Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader Ditte Marie Fallesen, Practice Manager for Social Sustainability and Inclusion – East Asia and Pacific Janmejay Singh, Program Leader and Lead Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Midori Makino, Social Development Specialist Josephine Jade, Social Development Specialist Paul Adolfo, Financial Management Specialist Maria Liennefer Penaroyo, and Procurement Specialist Melissa Agustines Yan.
DSWD Field Office Caraga on the other hand was led by KALAHI-CIDSS Regional Program Coordinator Raffy Vigil, Deputy Regional Program Manager Esterlita Villamor, and core members of the Regional Program Management Office.
