DSWD: Limited success in anti-poverty drive

Poverty alleviation programs and household interventions generally had minimal to no “concrete impact” on the communities in Central Visayas, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) admitted yesterday.

“The situation of most of the households needs more than one intervention and it has to be sustainable,” Daisy Lor, regional program coordinator for the agency’s poverty reduction program, said.

Despite this, there are some exceptions. Lor cited Buenavista town in Bohol province, a fourth class municipality covering 35 barangays as an example.

She told Cebu Daily News that they released P13.7 million from Jan. to Sept. this year for the town’s 2.246 beneficiaries.

Lorna Toregosa, schools district supervisor in Buenavista, said they saw increased enrollment and improved performance among students.

“There was a big increase on the attendance because the students have school supplies and allowance,” she told reporters in an interview.

Lor said their agency seeks to solve “multi-dimensional” concerns of rural areas in the region by strengthening their partnership with non-government organizations, private organizations and local government units.

The DSWD currently has three convergence programs which are geared towards community empowerment with emphasis on education and improving health in poor communities.

These consist of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s), Self Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K), Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive And Integrated Delivery Of Social Services Project (KALAHI-CIDSS).  /Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter