Bislig, Tanauan, Leyte, October 2, 2014 – Two units of elementary school buildings, one with one classroom and the other with two classrooms, were reconstructed and turned over by DSWD Kalahi CIDDS – JFPR to the Bislig Elementary School of this municipality.
The project grant, thru the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was received under the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) and financed by the Government of Japan.

Mayor Pelagio Tecson, Jr. of Tanauan, in his speech, thanked ADB, JFPR, and DSWD for the repairs of the three classrooms which were turned over to the elementary school. He noted and expressed his gratitude and praise that the buildings were made of sturdier materials, and could withstand winds of 250 kph. Also in his message, Mayor Tecson updated those present with the ongoing events/projects in his municipality and thanked DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman and DSWD field office eight for the speedy release of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) budget. The Mayor further announced the start of the giving out of the remaining P10k of ESA in cash, to pay for carpenters, masons and other workers involved in the repairs of the houses in Tanauan. He also proudly added that Korea has chosen to build an Agricultural Institute in this municipality, too. For all these, he quotes Tanauan’s mantra: Each new day is a better day in Tanauan!

DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Resty Macuto, in his message, told everyone present that the best way for the Tanauanons to show their gratitude was to take care of the gifts given by Kalahi CIDDS-JFPR and ADB, not to recall the negative things that Yolanda has brought upon Tanauan, focus on the good things that came instead, and show to all that they are stronger than Yolanda. ARDO Macuto also shared his three I’s: Isaisip isapuso at isagawa ang nalalamang maganda. And his 3 M’s: matapat, mahusay at magiliw. These I’s and M’s put together would spell IAM or I’M which meant that each one of us should keep in mind and in heart, and therefore do those that we know are good, and we should do all these (that we do) honestly, happily and well. In this way, ARDO Macuto added, “Kaya ko, kaya mo, kaya natin ang pagbabago!”

Some ADB-JFPR personalities who graced the event were JFPR Project Manager Melanie Ruiz, ADB Stakeholders Engagement and External Relations Expert Dindo Mengote, ADB Project Coordinator Jocelyn Saw, Team Leader Ramon Binas, Jr., Deputy Team Leader Nicole Orendain, Financial Expert Alicia Manuel Calingin, Project Coordinator Mynard Matammu, Mr. Joel Mangahas and Ms Claribel Villarico.

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) was established in May 2000 and provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while fostering long-term social and economic development.
The JFPR grant has three components, which also reflects its targets: (A) Local government unit (LGU) infrastructure is restored, and access to emergency employment and livelihood support is provided; (B) Basic emergency maternal and child health-care services are provided; and (C) Improved resilience to future disasters and effective project management, coordination, monitoring, and reporting are achieved.
DSWD will be implementing sub-components under Component A. Sub-Component 1 is focused on the speedy recovery of selected small-scale municipal and community-level infrastructure. This will be implemented thru KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP.

KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP scales up the community-driven development (CDD) strategy, which was used and proven effective by Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) in its past 11 years of implementation.
Using a community-driven approach, KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP empowers poor and vulnerable communities to identify their own needs and prepare project proposals to address their common problems. These projects include local infrastructure such as water system, roads, bridges, health stations and school buildings.