“That’s what development to me is all about”, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President Tom Hurley remarked, referring to how the communities worked together in planning, identifying, building and maintaining sub-projects of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) in Region Eight.

Hurley and his team visited and graced the blessing and inauguration of concrete path-walk in Brgy. Bato and the Seawall in Poblacion 1, both in Paranas, Samar; and the concrete path-walk in Brgy. Quezon District 1, Tabontabon, Leyte.

Hurley commended the communities for the successful implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects in said towns, and extended his gratitude to MCA-P, DSWD, Mayors, the barangay officials, the community and the volunteers.

“It is something that we, at MCC take high value and we are actually seeing it here. It is a privilege on our part to support the communities’ efforts and we are pleased to help”, Hurley added.

Atty. Felix Babalcon, Jr., Municipal Mayor of Paranas, Samar, said that he is honored to have the heads from MCC visit his municipality.

Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC) Chair Tito Cabañero disclosed that the construction of the concrete path-walk in Brgy. Bato will help their community in transporting their products to the market.

“Before the path-walk was constructed, it was really difficult for the fishermen and farmers to bring their products because the road was muddy and hardly passable especially during rainy season”, Cabañero stressed.

The 0.20 kilometer concrete path-walk benefits 154 households in the community.

The team was composed of MCC Country Director Matthew Bohn and Cheng Orata; Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P) Executive Director Marivic Anonuevo, Director for Kalahi-CIDSS Andy Moll, Engineer Rudy Arias; and from the National Project Management Office (NPMO) Director Edgar Pato, Engineer Romy Malong and Ellen Quezon.

The MCC is a United States-based foreign agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. It is funding the implementation of three projects in the country through a Compact Agreement with the Government of the Philippines. The goal of the compact is to reduce poverty in the country through economic growth.

In the Philippines, the MCA-P is the accountable entity created to manage the grant. It was established by virtue of Executive Order No. 849.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the three projects being funded by MCC. It is a community driven development (CDD) project where communities identify, select, design, implement and maintain sub-projects according to their most pressing needs. It aims to improve local governance, empower the communities, and reduce poverty.