Agusan Sur, DSWD agree to strengthen disaster resilience of 500 poor families
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — The eight municipalities in the province of Agusan del Sur, namely, Esperanza, Sibagat, San Luis, Prosperidad, Talacogon, La Paz, Loreto, and Veruela, are set to benefit from the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga on April 22.
The agreement aims to strengthen communities vulnerable to climate-related risks under the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP), the latest component of the DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS). The program will cover 500 poor and high-risk municipalities nationwide, with World Bank grants ranging from P50 million to P70 million.
The MOA signing was held at the Provincial Research Development and Innovation Office (PRDIO) Conference Room in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and attended by Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr., with DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga-Libang joining virtually. Also present were KALAHI-CIDSS staff and Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) officers.
The agreement aims to support communities in developing projects that will help them better prepare for and respond to calamities.
Project Development Officer III Elesio Veso Jr. of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS confirmed the selected municipalities in the province.
“We have eight municipalities that will benefit from the project—Esperanza, Sibagat, San Luis, Prosperidad, Talacogon, La Paz, Loreto, and Veruela. These areas met the criteria, including high stunting rates, vulnerability to disasters, and the presence of indigenous peoples (IPs), based on the assessment of the national and regional offices,” he said.
Governor Cane expressed his full support for the project.
“The provincial government of Agusan del Sur is fully behind this initiative. We will honor our commitment, support our local government units, and make sure every resource reaches the communities that need it most,” he said.
With the strong partnership among the World Bank, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the provincial government of Agusan del Sur, this initiative marks a significant step toward building safer, more resilient communities. Through sustained funding, technical support, and committed local leadership, the program is expected to drive meaningful improvements in disaster preparedness, community development, and overall quality of life—ensuring that even the most vulnerable sectors in the province are better equipped to face future challenges. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur, with the report from PTV Agusan del Sur)
