Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has allocated  more than 39 million pesos intended for around 15, 284 qualified beneficiaries of the Risk Resiliency Program- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – Disaster Risk Reduction (RRP-CCAM-DRR) Program.

The RRP-CCAM-DRR seeks to cultivate awareness and responsibility of its beneficiaries on our national plight on climate change.

As a member agency of the National Cabinet Cluster on CCCAM-DRR, DSWD spearheads Community Based Projects that employ indigents and vulnerable individuals living along disaster-prone areas such as risky river basins.

Given the region’s high susceptibility and exposure to hazards, the six (6) provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were prioritized under the program.

“Through the years, climate change has contributed to the escalation of natural hazards that resulted in lost  lives, livelihood and economic distress. The incident in Itogon, Benguet has been one of the biggest manifestation of such. We would never want that to happen again”, DSWD FO CAR Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, CESO II said.

Projects under the RRP-CCAM-DRR seek to provide a 10-day temporary source of income to our beneficiaries. This semester, payout for the first batch of beneficiaries in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Kalinga and Ifugao was conducted on 25-28 May 2021 with allocated amount of Php 4.917 Million for 1,892 beneficiaries.

“We are employing a Cash for Work modality as an effective means to stimulate the DRR-CCAM program that is realistic to the needs of our beneficiaries. Through the Cash for Work, our beneficiaries will identify projects such as improvement of drainage canals, slope protection, tree planting, and improvement of irrigation. that can be beneficial to their communities in terms of climate change and disaster risk reduction”, Director Garcia added.

Moreover, Director Garcia emphasized that the formula to reduce disaster risk is to increase the capacity and lessen the exposure of the vulnerable members of the community.

“We would like to commend the local government units and the communities who participate in this endeavor. We will continue to work with you to create a safe, sustainable and disaster-resilient Cordillera. #DSWD FO CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Angela M. Ocawe