Antique: Five municipalities in Antique are set to benefit from PHP310 million worth of subprojects aimed at enhancing disaster resilience. These projects fall under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) initiative.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is part of the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project modality of KALAHI-CIDSS. This effort is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as explained by Antique focal person Anabel Bulac. The project focuses on empowering vulnerable municipalities to plan, budget, and implement subprojects that enhance their resilience to climate, disaster, socio-economic, and environmental risks.

The coastal towns of Pandan, Caluya, and Tibiao, along with the mountainous towns of Valderrama and San Remigio, have been selected as recipients. These municipalities were identified based on the vulnerability of their barangays to hazards and their poverty incidence.

Bulac stated that Pandan, Valderrama, and Tibiao will each receive PHP70 million worth of subprojects, while San Remigio and Caluya will receive PHP50 million each. The specific subprojects will be determined by the recipient barangays, with options including flood control, farm-to-market roads, or livelihood initiatives based on their priorities.

She also noted that the three-year project has already garnered support from the provincial government, led by Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier, during a collaboration meeting. Although the provincial government is not required to provide a counterpart fund, recipient municipalities will contribute manpower and a financial counterpart amounting to 20 percent of the grant.

Implementation of these subprojects is anticipated to commence within the next three months.