The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 – Central Visayas (DSWD 7) advanced its community resilience efforts by conducting simultaneous stakeholders’ consultations for the proposed “Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project” (Pagkilos) in Cebu and Bohol on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
The event brought together participants from various barangays in Bien Unido, including youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and women’s groups.
Representatives from various community sectors in Bien Unido and Balamban—including persons with disabilities, the barangay local government, youth, and senior citizens—welcomed the proposed community resilience project, which will involve them from planning to maintenance.
The Pagkilos project is a successor program for KALAHI-CIDSS, set to launch in the third quarter of 2025.
The project proposal has passed the National Economic and Development Authority–Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) Technical Board, which has endorsed it to the ICC Cabinet Committee (ICC CabCom).
The Visayas consultation marked the conclusion of the nationwide series of consultations for the project. Visayas has the widest project coverage under the Pagkilos project.
Other areas in the Visayas that held the same stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday are Balamban in Cebu, Tolosa in Leyte, Hinobaan in Negros Occidental, and Madalag in Aklan.
The Regional Program Management Office facilitated the discussions in local languages and dialects.
During the Wednesday consultation, National Program Management Office (NPMO) head lawyer Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin presented the project’s safeguards policy, which outlines measures to ensure responsible and sustainable implementation.
She emphasized that the safeguards policy of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS and Pagkilos aims to prevent harm to both people and the environment.
Consultations, concerns
Jhen Rose Apas, representing the youth sector, said Bien Unido will benefit from the project, as it is highly vulnerable to disasters.
“Yes, definitely (our place needs it) Syempre kay naay part sa Bien Unido nga coastal. So, nanginahanglan siya og proteksiyon in case of calamity (Of course, since part of Bien Unido is coastal, it really needs protection in case of a calamity.)
Likewise, Diogracio Barcial, head of the Bien Unido Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, welcomed the opportunity to identify the resilience of sub-projects their community needs. He preferred having a nature-based solution for the municipality.
“Nalipay ko kay usa sa gi-consider pod nga mga projects kay nature-based solutions. One of the protections g’yud during calamity, kung maghisgot ka’g isla is the mangrove, storm surge protection, windbreakers, nature-based, dili sya structure kay mag-away man lagi’g yuta sa structure, nindot ning nature-based solutions,” he said.
(I’m happy that nature-based solutions are also being considered as part of the projects. One of the key protections during calamities—especially when talking about islands—is the mangrove. It serves as storm surge protection, a windbreaker, and a natural defense. Unlike structures, which often lead to land disputes, nature-based solutions are a great alternative.)
Marissa Bacang, 58, representative of persons with disability (PWD) in Balamban, Cebu, welcomed their involvement in the social preparation and selection process to ensure that the subprojects are PWD-friendly.
Meanwhile, ABC President Pantaleon Mabalatan Jr. expressed concerns about land acquisition for the project site, noting cases where landowners face difficulties giving way to government projects.
He asked about seeking assistance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said that the proposed Pagkilos project requires following a proper acquisition process. However, he also said that if the lot owner refuses, they can consider an alternative mode.
The Pagkilos project will not allow road construction or other projects in protected areas nor the use of project funds for purchase or land compensation is not allowed.
Menu of subprojects
The project intends to cover areas with high poverty incidence, severe climatic hazards, and a significant proportion of the indigenous population.
The selected beneficiary LGUs can identify their proposed sub projects based on their assessed needs.
However, these projects must align with initiatives that enhance community resilience.
Example subproject categories that may be considered under the Pagkilos project include resilient infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem conservation or nature-based solutions.
Mapue said resilient infrastructures are those essential to the survival or safety of communities and their livelihoods. These may include water systems and retrofitting of existing facilities for basic services.
Likewise, nature-based solutions may include mangrove preservation and ecotourism parks, solid waste management, and construction of material recovery facilities. ###
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