ILOILO — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has put the spotlight on Janiuay town’s P255.13-million worth of community-driven development projects, citing them as concrete examples of how grassroots participation delivers lasting infrastructure and social gains under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) KALAHI-CIDSS program.
The ADB delegation recently visited Barangay Matag-ub as part of a technical field review of the Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP), the latest initiative under KALAHI-CIDSS, assessing how more than two decades of community-led interventions have transformed local communities.
From 2003 to 2024, Janiuay completed 226 subprojects amounting to P255,135,609.54 — including P201,145,159.52 in KALAHI-CIDSS grants and P53,990,450.02 in local counterpart contributions — covering roads, daycare centers, disaster response equipment, school facilities, water systems, pathways, and hanging footbridges.
Leading the ADB team was Emiko Misaki, Principal Health Specialist and Team Leader, joined by officials from the KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Management Office, including Director Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin, as well as DSWD Region 6 director Joselito Estember and Deputy Regional Project Manager Silverio Von Maguad III.
Key Projects Inspected
Among the highlighted projects was the 30-meter Hanging Foot Bridge completed on May 30, 2019, benefiting 1,825 Ati residents. Built at a cost of P2,129,977, the bridge improved mobility and access to essential services in geographically isolated areas.
The delegation also inspected the Matag-ub Level II Water System, operational since August 2004, which provides reliable access to clean water for multiple households across various sitios. The project had a total investment of P1,173,568.45.
ADB representatives underscored the importance of integrating safeguards such as environmental sustainability, gender sensitivity, respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and social inclusion in implementing projects, emphasizing the need to replicate successful practices in future initiatives.
The learning exchange served as both validation of Janiuay’s long-standing commitment to community-driven development and a benchmark for scaling up resilience-focused interventions under the PCRP, reinforcing the role of empowered communities in shaping sustainable local development./PN
