ILOILO – Ten municipalities in Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo have been selected as pilot sites for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) P56.706-billion Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP), a flagship initiative to strengthen disaster and climate resilience in vulnerable areas nationwide.
Set for rollout from 2025 to 2030, the project will cover 500 municipalities across the country and benefit more than 4.13 million households.
In Western Visayas, the chosen towns are Caluya, Tibiao, Pandan, Valderrama, and San Remigio in Antique; Carles, Concepcion, and San Joaquin in Iloilo; and Madalag and Libacao in Aklan.
According to DSWD Region 6’s Promotive Services Division officer-in-charge Judith Barredo, the pilot sites were determined based on poverty incidence above the national average of 18.1 percent, high exposure to multiple hazards such as drought, extreme heat, flooding, storm surges, landslides, and coastal inundation, high rates of child stunting, and the presence of Indigenous Peoples.
The project, also known as Panahon ng Pagkilos, will focus on participatory resilience planning to give communities a stronger voice in shaping local strategies and gaining access to resilience investments. It is aligned with the National Adaptation Plan (2023–2050) and complements existing Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans of local government units.
An orientation was recently conducted for all 10 local government units, while the national launch is slated for November in Iloilo City. The DSWD is partnering with the World Bank for the project’s implementation.
“This initiative aims to co-create solutions with communities and help them withstand climate and disaster risks while contributing to the Philippine Development Plan’s goal of building a resilient and inclusive society,” Barredo said./PN
