The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) US-Washington based Senior Adviser Cassandra Butts, with the MCC Country Director Matt Bohn, Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P) Managing Director and CEO Marivic Aňonuevo, and party visits Region Eight to witness the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Eight (DSWD FO 8) and Alangalang Local Government Unit (LGU) for the implementation of the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

In her message, Cassandra Butts said that she is fortunate to be part of the decision making for the KALAHI-CIDSS project implementation in the Philippines. She added, “Seeing the program from Washington DC is one thing and actually seeing it on the ground is important for me and for my colleagues in MCC. It shows that the decisions that we’re making can have such an important impact on the ground”.

Butts expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome she received from the Filipinos. She further stressed that she looks forward to seeing more of the municipality of Alangalang and the Philippines in her future visits. She also encouraged everyone to make use of the resources wisely; adding that what the program is making today in the municipality will go a long way in reducing the poverty in the country.

After the MOA signing in Alangalang, Leyte, Butts and her team headed to Balangiga, Eastern Samar to visit the KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects. There they were welcomed by the Municipal Mayor Viscuso De Lira and his constituents.

Among the sub-projects that the team visited was the day care center in Brgy. Poblacion 1; the 807.19 linear meter road/infrastructure project in Brgy. Poblacion 6; and the 2-classrom school building in Brgy. Bacjao, Elementary School.

The MCC is a United States-based foreign agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. It is funding the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS in some areas in the region through the Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P).

KALAHI-CIDSS is the government’s banner anti-poverty project spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It aims to improve local governance, empower the community and reduce poverty through the Community Driven Development (CDD) process.