DSWD, ADB execs visit dev’t projects in Leyte

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officials and Asian Development Bank (ADB) executives on Thursday conducted a series of monitoring and familiarization visits in several towns of Leyte province.

Led by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and ADB Vice President Scott Morris of the East and Southeast Asia department, the visit is part of the two agencies’ joint efforts to monitor the condition and ground impact of community-driven development projects funded by the ADB.

The DSWD and ADB officials first convened at The Tropics, McArthur Park in Palo town to discuss ongoing collaboration and future areas of partnership.

They next went to Tanauan town to visit ADB-funded development projects in the area, including those intended for the rehabilitation and recovery of communities that bore the brunt of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.

The Bislig Elementary School was among these projects, being one of the local infrastructures that was hard-hit by Yolanda. The school was rebuilt in 2015 through the ADB’s funding.

The two agencies also inspected the water system co-financed by the ADB in Barangay Calsadahay in Tanauan.

Built in 2018, the gravity-fed water system has brought clean water source closer to Calsadahay residents who used to fetch water from neighboring barangays and municipalities.

Joining the DSWD chief in Leyte were Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the Operations Group; Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Statutory Programs under the Operations Group; Director Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS); and Regional Director Grace Subong of the Field Office in Eastern Visayas (FO 8).

The ADB officials present at the activity were Country Director Pavit Ramachandran; Principal Country Specialist Christina Lozano, and Country Operations Head Alain Morel, local officials were led by Tanauan Mayor Gina Merilo. (PNA)

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