LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol has activated the Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) as an alternative project to implement the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) in the region.
Ranelle Anne M. Sertan, DSWD Bicol Kalahi-CIDSS regional social marketing officer, said that DROP is a modified Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) to respond the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
While under the quarantine period, mass gatherings are strictly prohibited, in which it is among the requirements of Kalahi-CIDSS implementation.
“The DROP was triggered by Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency to facilitate the mobilization of resources, to ease the processes including procurement of critical logistics and supplies. Due to community quarantine enforced in the past 2 months, the program opted to shift the mode of implementation from LGU-led to DROP which is Kalahi-CIDSS’ temporary procedure for program implementation in the context of emergency or disaster situations,” Sertan said quoting DSWD Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia.
Sertan added that while Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the Philippine government, DROP also is modified CEAC anchored into disaster response.
“Yung sa Kalahi-CIDSS, it is more on infra projects na identified ng community, while sa DROP, health related projects, tulad ng pagbili ng health suppies, such as PPEs, and pagpapagawa ng quarantine facilities. Yung project depende pa rin community kung kailangan nila,” she narrated.
She added that DROP is targeted to be implemented soon in 5 municipalities in Catanduanes province, 4 municipalities in Sorsogon province, 2 municipalities in Masbate province, 2 in Camarines Norte and 2 in Camarines Sur province.
“With the implementation of DROP, it will provide a resource to augment to the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) and Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) in providing assistance during the management of COVID-19 crisis response in the community. It will also provide basic services to the barangay in coordination with the BLGU through the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) and Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) and will ensure that the available resources provided will be maximized and will respond to the identified needs of the community,” she explained. (NNL/DSWD5/PIA5)