Tacloban City – Fifteen out of 40 municipalities made it to the list of new KALAHI-CIDSS municipalities for implementation next year during the Information Dissemination and Municipality Selection Process for KALAHI-CIDSS. These municipalities came from Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Leyte.

From Leyte Province, the following municipalities made it to the roster – Barugo, Matag-ob, Burauen, Babatngon, Alang-alang, Tanauan, Abuyog, and Calubian. Winning Northern Samar municipalities are Lavezares, Bobon, Lope de Vega, and Catarman. From Eastern Samar, the municipalities of Dolores, Gen. MacArthur, and Llorente won the chance to participate and implement the Kalahi-CIDSS Project.

However, Edgar Pato, OIC KALAHI-CIDSS National Project Manager, said that those who will not make it to the list will still have a chance in the future. This assurance was given by Pato to the municipal mayors present during the activity held May 30, 2011 at Hotel Alejandro, this city.

The selection was done “tambolio” style because there were not enough funds to finance all the 40 municipalities simultaneously. The selection would also be fair and square according to Pato.

Prior to the selection, DSWD FO Eight Regional Director Leticia Corillo wished the participating mayors good luck. The same message was extended by Leyte Provincial Governor Jericho Petilla thru Board Member Roque Tiu.

Leyte Board Member, Hon. Roque Tiu was given the honor of picking the entries for the Project implementation next year. Hon. Tiu represented Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla. Another governor representative was Mr. Vicente Arillo Jr., of Northern Samar, representing Governor Paul Daza.

In his brief closing message, Assistant Regional Director Jaime Eclavea congratulated the representatives of winning municipalities and reminded them that they had that day and until December this year to prepare the requirements prior to Project implementation.

Also represented in the National Project Management Office initiated activities were the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Millennium Account- Philippines, and World Bank.