DSWD-6 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala encouraged the local chief executives in the provinces of Capiz and Guimaras to beat the clock of the Asian Development Bank in implementing Kalahi-CIDSS projects.

Geamala said all the construction of the sub-projects in the communities will strictly end on June 15 and all the community accounts are closed by June 30,2018.

“There is no more extension on the implementation of small-scale projects in Region VI.” She made her pronouncement during a forum on local government units implementing Kalahi-CIDSS dubbed as Pag-sugidanon.

The LGU forum is a series of consultation with local chief executives from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

The regional director said she made an appeal before DSWD Undersecretary for Promotive Operations and Programs Group Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe to extend the implementation but to no avail.

“The National Project Management Office is constrained to extend the implementation because of the policy of the funding agency governing the provision and disbursements of  grants,” said Geamala.

In Western Visayas alone, ADB had provided a total grant of more than P3.6 billion  for the implementation of 4,009 sub-projects in 112 municipalities.

The provision of grants for the implementation of sub-projects to help address the needs of the communities is time bound. “We have to beat the deadline.”

Geamala added the door for the previous funding agency is winding up on June 30,2018. “It is sad to know that it will end.” However, there are still other available services in the DSWD.”

The regional director said LGUs should fill-in the gaps in order to beat the time frame. “I know you have also limitations on manpower and fundings. “We do believe in your capacity.  I could not fathom your commitment.# “